At least one person has died in Bangladesh during clashes between security forces and Hindus protesting the arrest of a religious leader, police reported, as neighbouring India called for the protection of Hindus and minorities.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested at Dhaka airport on Monday on multiple charges, including sedition. His arrest led to protests by his followers in both Dhaka, the capital, and the city of Chittagong.
A Muslim lawyer was killed during protests outside a Chittagong court, according to police.
A probe into the alleged killing has been ordered, the caretaker government said in a statement, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus instructing law enforcement to increase security in the port city.
"The interim government is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony in Bangladesh at any cost," the government stated. Das, facing sedition charges filed in October after leading a large rally in Chittagong, was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag and was denied bail by a Chittagong court on Tuesday.
RAMPAGE
As Das was being escorted back to prison from court, over 2,000 of his supporters surrounded the police van, delaying it for more than two hours, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz said. "They went on a rampage, throwing bricks at us. To disperse the crowd, we had to fire tear gas. No one was seriously injured, but one of our constables was hurt," Aziz explained.
India criticised Das's arrest, issuing a strongly worded statement noting that those responsible for documented vandalism and arson against minorities and for desecrating deities have not been apprehended.
Hindu-majority India shares close cultural and business ties with Bangladesh, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has expressed concern over recent attacks on Hindus. "It is unfortunate that, while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings," India’s foreign ministry said.
In response, Bangladesh's foreign ministry emphasised that the government does not interfere with judicial processes, stating that the matter is being handled by the courts.
"The Government of Bangladesh is also committed to upholding communal harmony in the country," the ministry added.
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