Bangladesh High Court Petition Seeks Ban on Iskcon Amid Protests

A writ petition filed in the Bangladesh High Court has called for a ban on Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), a Hindu religious organization. The move comes amid ongoing protests over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and recent attacks on Iskcon temples by radical Islamic groups.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, described Iskcon as a “religious fundamentalist organization” and confirmed that the government is scrutinizing its activities.

The court also addressed clashes between security forces and the monk’s followers, which led to the death of Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam. The High Court directed the government to provide an update on Iskcon and the national law and order situation by Thursday morning, while urging steps to prevent further unrest.

This development follows recent controversy after the Attorney General suggested removing the term “secular” from the Constitution, citing the country’s predominantly Muslim population.