Bangladesh Prevents 54 ISKCON Members from Entering India at Benapole

Dhaka, Dec 1 (NationPress) On Sunday, Bangladesh's immigration police stopped 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) from crossing into India at the Benapole border checkpoint, even though they had valid travel documents.

According to local reports, Bangladesh police cited "suspicious travel" as the reason for their denial. Some reports even indicated that more than 70 Hindus had gathered at the border.

The Hindu devotees traveled from various regions of Bangladesh and arrived at the land port on Saturday, intending to cross into India via the Benapole-Petrapole route.

Benapole Immigration Checkpost Officer-in-Charge, Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiya, was quoted by the Daily Star stating that they consulted the Special Branch of Police and received directives from higher authorities not to allow them to proceed.

Bhuiya explained that the 54 ISKCON devotees were not permitted to travel due to "suspicions regarding their travel purposes".

Despite holding valid passports and visas, several members of the group, who were held at the checkpoint since Saturday night, expressed frustration that they were turned away without a clear explanation. One ISKCON member, Saurabh Tapandar Cheli, mentioned, "We were going to participate in a religious ceremony in India, but immigration officials stopped us, citing the absence of government permission."

The Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole, on the Indian side, was inaugurated jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in July 2016.

Minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, have faced significant attacks from Islamist groups following the establishment of the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Earlier this week, the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote associated with ISKCON, highlighted the issues faced by minorities in Bangladesh. Reports of arson, looting of minority properties, and desecration of temples have emerged.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the targeting of peaceful protests by minorities against the arrest of Shri Das, urging Bangladesh to ensure the safety and rights of all minorities.

New Delhi remains worried about escalating extremist rhetoric and violence in Bangladesh, particularly as radicals continue to propagate false narratives against Hindus and ISKCON.

Following the jailing of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of Bangladesh ordered the freezing of his bank account along with those of 16 other Hindus linked to ISKCON.

On Thursday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the "tortures" inflicted on the populace by the interim government, calling for Das's "immediate release".

She stated, "A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested; he must be released immediately." Hasina also highlighted incidents of persecution reported from 52 districts in Bangladesh since her resignation on August 5.

She mentioned, "A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries, and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized, and looted." She emphasized the need for religious freedom and security for all communities.

Hasina concluded, "After the killing of numerous Awami League leaders and workers, harassment continues through assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn these anarchic actions."