RRAG demands release of ISKCON priest on Janmashtami

The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) on Saturday the diplomatic community and the United Nations to intervene with the Government of Bangladesh to release Hindu Priest Chinmoy Das from prison custody today on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Chief of Army Staff ISPR Bangladesh, General Waqar Uz Zaman, Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Mohd Nazmul Hussain and Chief Marshal of Bangladesh Air Force Hasan Mahmud Khan attending Janmashtami, birthday of Lord Krishna, function today in Dhaka.

“This is sham and a desperate attempt to beguile the international community in the light of the ongoing relentless atrocities against the Hindus. A total of 2,485 incidents of violence against religious and ethnic minorities were reported during one year reign of Chief Adviser GOB, Dr Muhammad Yunus.” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of the RRAG.

“If the Government of Bangladesh is serious the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Chinomoy Das Prabhu at least ought to be released on bail today, the birthday of Lord Krishna. Chinmoy Das remains in prison from 25 November 2024 first on a private complaint of sedition for allegedly putting the flag of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) on top of Bangladesh's national flag and thereafter, for the murder of a lawyer in court complex when Das was already in police custody and being produced in the court (SIC)! If there was any conspiracy by Das to murder the lawyer, it was done by the Bangladeshi security forces under whose custody he was.

None of the security officials of the Government of Bangladesh has been charged for this murder! The prosecution is opposing the bail of Chinmoy Das to send a clear message to the Hindus not to organise any political meeting but remain restricted to religious programmes like celebrating Janmashtami.”  - further stated Mr Chakma.