C T Online Desk: Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has called on the government to ban the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna movement, in Bangladesh terming the organisation as an “anti-Hindu militant group”.
“I want to say clearly that Iskcon is not a Hindu organisation. Iskcon is an anti-Sanatani militant organisation,” Hefazat’s Central Assistant Publicity Secretary Sayem Ullah said yesterday (8 November) while addressing a rally in Chattogram, held in protest of attacks reportedly carried out by pro-Iskcon men on joint forces in the port city on tuesday last. .
Hefazat, an Islamic group comprised mostly of madrasah teachers and students, held the rally in the Andarkilla crossing in the port city after the Jummah prayer. They later brought out a procession from there to Chattogram Press Club via Cheragi Pahar intersection.
“Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians – all have been living in harmony in Bangladesh since the independence. Despite being the majority in the country, muslims have never attacked members of other religions. But in the last 15 years, this Iskcon was implementing its own secret agenda using the support of the Awami League fascists,” Sayem claimed.
Describing the group as an anti-Hindu militant organisation, the Hefazat leader said, “The Sanatanis do not like Iskcon. They have dared to attack brother’s shop. They did not stop there. They also attacked our patriotic army. Acid was thrown at the police. This Iskcon should be banned from Bangladesh. Otherwise, Hefazat-e-Islam will be forced to announce bigger programmes, Hefazal leader told. ”
Also addressing the rally, Hefazat’s Chattogram city unit leader Shibli Nomani condemned the attack on the army, police and traders in the port city.
On 5 November, last members of joint forces, including the army and the police, were allegedly attacked by pro-Iskcon members in the port city’s Hazari Lane area while they tried to rescue a trader who was locked up in his shop by Hindu protesters for sharing an anti-Iskcon post on Facebook.Over 82 suspects were detained over the attacks the following day, out of them 49 sued in the court releasing 43 after scrutiny from the case, police sources said.
