In yet another grim escalation of anti-Hindu violence, an Islamic extremist mob attacked a Hindu temple in the Shibatala Karmakar area of Chapainawabganj district, sending shockwaves through the vulnerable Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Reports indicate that the army has arrived on the scene, but, astonishingly, they are failing to provide the crucial assistance needed by the besieged community. Instead, helpless members of the temple committee have taken to the streets in protest, decrying the army’s indifference to their plight.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a globally recognized Hindu Vaishnavite organization, now finds itself at the center of a coordinated assault in Bangladesh. For months, ISKCON has served as a unifying force for the Hindu minority, providing resistance against a wave of violence that is being fueled by radical Islamist groups like Hifazat-e-Islam. In recent days, the extremists have intensified their campaign, with Hifazat-e-Islam openly calling for attacks against ISKCON and spreading incitement through social media channels, even brazenly invoking the memory of the infamous Noakhali massacre to instill terror in Bangladesh’s Hindu community.
Tensions escalated in Bangladesh’s port city of Chittagong as security forces launched a massive crackdown on the minority Hindu community following clashes sparked by a social media post. The incident began on November 5 in the Hazari Gali area when Osman Ali, a member of the radical Islamic group Jamat-e-Islami, posted derogatory remarks against the Hindu religion and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on social media.
Footage of the incident showed scenes of chaos, with security personnel clashing with civilians, chasing them, and hitting them with batons.
ISKCON Under Siege
ISKCON is far from a political threat; it is an esteemed spiritual organization with a presence in over 76 countries, promoting universal principles of peace and unity through the Hare Krishna Movement. In Bangladesh, ISKCON’s outreach extends beyond spiritual gatherings to humanitarian work, assisting communities in need, particularly during natural disasters. Yet, this internationally respected institution now faces an unprovoked assault because its monks and Brahmacharis have dared to speak out against the brutal persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
As extremists rallied in Chattogram from Teri Bazar to Cheragi, their chilling slogans echoed through the streets, inciting violence with chants such as, “There is no place for ISKCON in this Bangla; burn down ISKCON, torch ISKCON’s addresses; raze down ISKCON, demolish ISKCON’s addresses.” These violent calls to action are nothing short of a national disgrace, yet the Bangladeshi government remains disturbingly silent, seemingly content to watch as its extremist factions terrorize its own citizens.
This escalating violence against ISKCON is emblematic of the broader failure of the Bangladeshi government to protect its minority communities from rising religious extremism. Instead of confronting this menace, Bangladeshi authorities appear more concerned with appeasing radical elements, effectively condoning the persecution of Hindus under the guise of “maintaining order.” Such inaction lays bare a damning truth: the government’s complacency has emboldened extremists, leaving Bangladeshi Hindus at the mercy of mobs intent on erasing them from the nation.