Let communal harmony be the final word

There is no doubt that there is an ongoing conspiracy to disrupt Bangladesh's communal harmony, particularly targeting the majority Muslim community; however, identifying who is behind this conspiracy is not easy. Naturally, one side blames the other for the conspiracy, but if we look at the events, it becomes somewhat clearer. After the political change in the country, people have taken to the streets with various demands in different sectors. Some groups are protesting for wage payments, others for the demand to upgrade colleges to universities, and some communities are fighting for the right to operate three-wheeled rickshaws on major roads. Additionally, various sections of society are seeking benefits or freedom from deprivation and fighting for their rights. Since August 5, this situation has been challenging for the government to handle, and in some cases, it has created embarrassment.

In such a situation, incidents of damage to the homes of the minority Hindu community and attacks on temples occurred in various parts of the country, especially before and after the Durga Puja. Although the two major political parties in the country, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have repeatedly condemned these incidents. In fact, Jamaat-e-Islami has even called for the protection of Hindu temples, and in some cases, they have provided security. However, in response to these incidents and fearing that similar occurrences might happen in the future, the Hindu community in Bangladesh has tried to unite and create a platform for demanding justice for the events that have occurred.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, also known as Chinmoy Mahaprabhu, the head of the Pundarik Dham in Hathazari, Chattogram, has tried to lead the movement to unite the Hindu community under the banner of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha. He was the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Combined Sanatani Jagaran Jote, an organization aimed at protecting the interests of Hindus in the country. Although he was not very well-known across the country, it has been found that he is a very friendly and approachable person in his personal life, with many local Muslims also sharing a friendly relationship with him. A few days ago, he met with Farhad Majhar, a prominent intellectual and advocate for Islamic reform movements in Bangladesh, who currently holds influence in the interim government.

Farhad Mazhar and Chinmoy Krishna Das embraced each other and had an earnest discussion and exchange of views. After the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, Farhad Mazhar demanded his immediate release, posting on Facebook, “Release Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, and the head of Pundarik Dham, immediately. Protect the civil and human rights of all the people of Bangladesh, irrespective of religion and ethnicity, and end the self-destructive communal politics. Stop labeling Hindus as agents of Delhi or the BJP, and stop this hateful communal tagging of Hindutva.”

Why was Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari arrested? On October 25, he organized a mass rally at Laldighi Maidan in the port city of Chattogram. Thousands of Hindu devotees attended the rally, where Chinmoy Krishna Das made a speech stating, “If there is an attempt to oust the Sanatani community from this country, the consequences will be severe. From the very field where the Six-Point Movement for independence was initiated, all the priests of Bangladesh’s temples and monasteries have gathered in support of the Sanatani cause. The more the Sanatanis are oppressed, the more united we will become. After regional rallies and gatherings in various districts, we will march towards Dhaka.” It is noteworthy that there was no discussion of political matters at this gathering. Alongside the national flag, the flag of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was also present. Prior to this, on September 13, Chinmoy Krishna Das was the keynote speaker at a rally organized by the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Society at Jamal Khan in Chattogram, which demanded the protection of temples during Durga Puja, stop forced resignation of teachers, and other security-related measures for the celebration.

On October 31, six days after the rally on October 25, Firoz Khan, the general secretary of the BNP's Mohora ward in Chattogram city, filed a case under sections 120(kha), 124(ka), 153(ka), 109, and 34 of the Penal Code. In the case, 19 followers of the Sanatan religion were named, and 10-15 unidentified individuals were also mentioned. The charges are very serious. Section 120(kha) refers to criminal conspiracy, and Section 124(ka) refers to the crime of treason. While several individuals had already been arrested in this case, Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on November 25. The case also accuses that a flag other than the national flag was prominently displayed at the rally, which, under Bangladesh's law, is a criminal offense to display any flag more prominently than the national flag.

However, following the case, the political party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) showed considerable prudence. Initially, local BNP leaders in Chattogram stated that this case was personal and had no connection to the party. Subsequently, he was relieved from his position in the party. It is also noteworthy that Chinmoy Krishna Das had been previously dismissed from ISKCON for violating party discipline. However, since he had been associated with ISKCON for a long time and was involved in their rallies, there is now a growing demand from some members of the majority community to ban ISKCON.

After the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, India, particularly the majority Sanatan religious community, did not take the matter lightly. On November 26, India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing concern over his arrest. BJP leader from West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, submitted a memorandum to the Indian Deputy High Commission. The state BJP has announced various programs along the Bangladesh border. The ruling party in the state, Trinamool Congress, responded, with its National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee stating, "This is a matter concerning a foreign country, and we will support whatever position the Indian government takes." One of the prominent leaders of the ruling party, Firhad Hakim, remarked, "The situation in Bangladesh was unfortunate earlier, but now it has become a matter of concern."

In response, the Bangladeshi government issued a statement regarding India's remarks. However, the government must ensure that the country's international image is not tarnished. Undoubtedly, this incident raises concerns about Hindu-Muslim harmony in Bangladesh. The government should aim to resolve the issue politically, as while the law follows its own course, it can sometimes create unfavorable conditions based on the prevailing environment. We, as a nation, want to see unity and harmony among all people, regardless of religion. The common people of the country, who are deeply religious, wish to live together peacefully. Thus, a peaceful resolution is possible, and we trust that all parties will walk the path of peace.

Mohsin Habib: Journalist, writer, and analyst on international affairs.