ISKCON B'desh distances itself from arrested monk

HC refuses to ban ISKCON in Bangladesh

DHAKA/NEW DELHI: Amid a massive row over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das over a sedition charge and simmering tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi over the issue of safety of Hindus and minorities, ISKCON Bangladesh distanced itself from the monk on Thursday, saying his "actions are not representative" of the religious body.

Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, the general secretary of ISKCON Bangladesh, said the monk had been removed from all positions of the organisation due to a breach of discipline, according to a report in The Dhaka Tribune.

Charu Chandra Das said ISKCON had no involvement in the activities of Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested earlier this month.

"Several months ago, Leelaraj Gour Das, head of Prabartak Sri Krishna Mandir, Gaurang Das, and Chinmoy Krishna Das, head of Sri Sri Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, were removed from their positions and all organisational activities within ISKCON due to violations of discipline. It was clearly stated that their actions are not representative of ISKCON," he said.

He also said the body wasn’t linked to the death of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.

Meanwhile, during Parliament’s ongoing winter session, Minister of State for External Affairs condemned the recent attacks on Hindu minorities. He expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in August.