Bangladesh says India's statement 'misrepresents facts, contrary to the spirit of friendship'

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna has been misconstrued by certain quarters, the foreign ministry says

The interim government has dubbed as ‘baseless’ the Indian foreign ministry’s statement expressing ‘deep concerns’ over the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson of the Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Jote, or United Sanatan Awakening Alliance.

In a statement of its own on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The Bangladesh government maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries.”

Reacting strongly to Delhi’s stance, Dhaka said: “The Bangladesh government is also committed to upholding communal harmony in the country.”

On Tuesday afternoon, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement over the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna, principal of Chattogram’s Pundarik Dham.

“This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by ‘extremist elements’ in Bangladesh,” the statement read.

“There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples.”

“It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges have been pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings, the statement added.

Chinmoy Krishna, a Hindu priest and a religious minority leader in Bangladesh, has been advocating on behalf of the Sanatani or Hindu community across Bangladesh, raising eight-point charter of demand, including an end to persecution of religious minorities.

He was arrested at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport by Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch on Monday.

Protests broke out demanding his release in parts of the country, including Chattogram, since that night.

He was brought to the court in a ‘sedition’ case around 10:45am on Tuesday amid tight security.

Following a public rally at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan on Oct 25, a sedition case was filed on Oct 30 against Chinmoy and 18 others at Kotwali Police Station.

The BNP removed its Chandgaon Mohra ward unit general secretary Firoz Khan, an accused in the case.

The case alleged that on the day of the rally, a saffron religious flag associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON, was placed over the national flag at New Market -- an act described as 'tantamount to rejecting the integrity of the state'.

The case also accuses the defendants of engaging in sedition by disrespecting the national flag with the intent to 'undermine the country’s sovereignty and create unrest', while aiming to 'destabilise the state by displaying a religious flag above the national flag'.

A Chattogram court sent Chinmoy Krishna to jail on Tuesday, turning down his bail appeal.

The lawyers sought the court's order to allow Chinmoy Krishna to perform his religious rituals while in jail.

The court ordered authorities to follow the prison code of conduct in this regard.

There were widespread protests when Chinmoy Krishna was taken to the prison. Supporters blocked his prison van in the court premises for about three and a half hours. Police also used stern grenades to disperse them.

On the way down from the hilltop court, the protesters clashed with lawyers and shop workers, leaving a lawyer dead and several others injured.

Following the jailing of Chinmoy Krishna, India's foreign ministry in a statement urged the Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

In the press release reacting to the statement at night, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said: “Attention of the Bangladesh government has been drawn to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India to the media today on a matter concerning internal affairs of Bangladesh.”

“It is with utter dismay and a deep sense of hurt that the Bangladesh government notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since he has been arrested on specific charges.”

Stating India’s statement as ‘baseless’, the foreign ministry release said: “The statement also does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the government and the people in this regard.”

“It also completely disregards that the Bangladesh government is determined to conclusively end the culture of impunity to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations against the people of Bangladesh, thus treating the religious majority and minorities alike.”

The foreign ministry said, “Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance.”

“Ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities, remains a duty of the Bangladesh government. This was yet again vindicated by the peaceful observance of Durga Puja throughout Bangladesh only last month,” the release stated.

The foreign ministry said the Bangladesh government would like to reiterate that the country’s judiciary is fully independent and it does not interfere in the work of the judiciary.

The incident of Chinmoy Krishna is at present being dealt with by the court of law, it added.

Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during a clash between law-enforcing agencies and Sanatan devotees near the court while Chinmoy Krishna was taken to prison following the court order.

Touching on Alif’s death in the statement, the foreign ministry said: “The Bangladesh government is deeply concerned over the brutal killing of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif this afternoon in Chattogram. Authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost.”