New Delhi: The Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh.
Brahmachari was apprehended at Dhaka International Airport on November 25, while attempting to travel abroad.
The arrest stems from a sedition case filed against 19 individuals, including Brahmachari, for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag alongside the Bangladeshi national flag in Chittagong on October 25th.
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The RRAG, a leading human rights organization of India, views this case as a deliberate attempt to suppress the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Suhas Chakma, Director of the RRAG, highlighted a disturbing pattern of using sedition charges to silence dissent and suppress peaceful protests. He drew parallels to the recent violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where tribal communities were targeted for organizing protests.
Chakma also criticized the government’s targeting of critics, citing the case of Tapashee Tabassum Urmi, a government official who faced sedition and defamation charges for allegedly making negative comments about the current administration.
The RRAG has called for the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and expressed serious concerns about the increasing religious tensions in Bangladesh.
The organization stated that such actions undermine the principles of religious freedom and tolerance.