New Delhi: Hindus in Chittagong were attacked by Bangladeshi security forces after they staged demonstrations to protest against a Muslim businessman’s derogatory post targeting the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and Sanatana Dharma.
The situation turned tense and ugly in Hazari Goli in the port city on Tuesday night after trader Osman Mollah dubbed ISKCON as a “terrorist organisation” in a Facebook post, which triggered an outcry from the Hindus and they protested outside his shop. Sources said Mollah was shifted to a safe place as the demonstrations escalated.
Operation against Hindu establishments
Later the same night, massive operation was carried out by joint forces of police and army in which Hindu establishments were attacked. Videos of the attack are being widely circulated now.
A huge disturbance is going on in Chittagong’s Hazari Gull after demonstration against FB post calling ISCKON a terrorist org.
Bangladesh Army, Police and Radicals have started attacking Hindus and their houses. Even CCTV’s are being broken to hide the slaughter of hindus pic.twitter.com/m269rg1mWC
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) November 5, 2024
Saifuddin Tuhin, a local reporter from Chittagong, told ANI that a Muslim youth reportedly uploaded a post on Facebook flaying ISKCON. Following this, enraged members of the Hindu community staged protests and a clash broke out between them and the law-enforcing agencies. After the clashes, a joint operation was carried out by law enforcing agencies, comprising police and army, he added.
According to a Hindu community leader, a local youth named Osman wrote a Facebook post, calling for a ban on ISKCON. Law and order forces went there when tension flared. It has been alleged that something like acid was thrown at the law enforcement agencies, he added.
The leader said that at night, the joint forces carried out raid in Hazari Goli and arrested nearly 100 suspects. Some were released after they underwent questioning. Because of a power outage during the operation, details about the incident were hazy, he pointed out. A report in Bangla Daily, Prothom Alo, said that shots were also fired in the air during the operation.
Of late, some people and groups have raised a demand to ban ISKCON in Bangladesh. Leaders of ISKCON in Dhaka recently sought the apology of ‘Amar Desh’ editor Mahmudur Rahman for his call to ban ISKCON. A group called ‘Inqilab Manch’ also demanded a ban on ISKCON.
ISKCON seeks PM Modi’s intervention
ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das urged PM Narendra Modi’s intervention in the whole issue. He said that extremely disturbing news has come from Chittagong, where Hindus have been attacked. The Army took side of the other community. “Don’t know how many people they have killed. They are not sparing anyone. The Muslim student group recently held a press conference against ISKCON,” he added “They are rattled as ISKCON has united Hindus there. We would urge PM Modi to intervene in the matter,” Das said.
