After the forced departure of Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024, incidents of violence, murder and arrests against Hindus and other minorities have increased rapidly in Bangladesh.
The latest victim of this violence is Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and voice for the rights of minorities. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested at Dhaka airport on 25 November 2024. He was demonstrating for the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. He was charged with treason, saying that he insulted the national flag of Bangladesh during a rally in Chittagong in October 2024. On November 26, he was produced in a Chittagong court, from where he was sent to jail.
His bail hearing was earlier scheduled for December 3, but has now been postponed to January 2, 2025, after his lawyer Raman Roy was attacked. ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das said Roy was badly beaten up at his home and his house was also vandalised. He is currently in the ICU.
After former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power, Islamist forces have become stronger in Bangladesh. After Mohammad Yunus became the head of the interim government, several banned jihadist organisations were re-recognised and their leaders were released from jail. Yunus met leaders of terrorist organisations, leading to a wave of attacks on Hindus, Christians and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina, who is taking refuge in India, alleged that the US played an important role in her departure from power. She said that if she had accepted US influence on the island of St. Martin, she could have remained in power. The alleged role of the Biden administration in removing Sheikh Hasina’s government and making Mohammad Yunus the head of the interim government is under question.
According to the ‘Sunday Guardian’ report, under this scheme launched in 2019, the US ran programs like ‘Promotion of Accountability and Inclusivity’ in Bangladesh. Under this, funds were given to artists, musicians and social organizations. Access was made to about 400,000 Bangladeshi citizens. But the main objective of this scheme was to reduce India’s influence. While the US relied on NGOs and funding for its influence in Bangladesh, China strengthened its economic hold through an investment of $38 billion.
