Bangladesh Stops Iskcon Monks at Border, Sparks International Attention
Bangladesh Denies Entry to Iskcon Monks with Valid Indian Visas
In a startling development, 63 monks associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) were stopped at the Benapole land port in Bangladesh over the weekend. Despite holding valid Indian visas, the monks were reportedly denied entry into India by Bangladeshi authorities, claiming that the country was “not safe for them,” according to Radharamn Das, vice-president of Iskcon Kolkata.
This incident comes against the backdrop of rising tensions regarding the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindu religious leaders. On Monday, all attention turned to Bangladesh’s top court, where Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent figure in the Sammilito Sanatani Jagaron Jot, was due to be produced. Arrested on November 25 for alleged sedition, Chinmoy Krishna Das was denied bail and sent to jail a day later.
Speaking to the press, Radharamn Das expressed concern over the escalating situation:
“We got news that 63 or even more brahmacharis came to the Benapole border on Saturday and Sunday. They all had valid visas and wanted to enter India. However, Bangladeshi authorities told them that India was not safe for them and didn’t allow them to enter India.”
Allegations and Arrests
According to Iskcon, 54 monks arrived at Benapole on Saturday, with an additional nine arriving by Sunday afternoon. However, all were barred from crossing the border. Das took to his social media account on X, formerly Twitter, to highlight the issue:
“They had all valid Indian visas and other documents. But Bangladeshi Border Police said that Bangladeshi Intelligence has told them not to allow them to enter India. Already, four of our brahmacharis have been arrested. Please pray.”
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has yet to respond officially to these allegations. Previously, the government dismissed concerns about the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, stating that his case was based on specific charges and not part of a systematic attack on minorities.
India’s Concern Over Minority Rights
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has voiced its concern over what it described as rising “atrocities against minorities” in Bangladesh. On Friday, a ministry spokesperson stated that India has requested a “fair and transparent trial” for Chinmoy Krishna Das, signaling the issue’s growing international implications.
In a related development, Iskcon revealed that two monks who attempted to deliver medicines to Chinmoy Krishna Das in jail were arrested last Friday, further intensifying fears within the religious community.
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