Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was ‘unjustly arrested’ and must be released immediately, Hindustan Times reported on Thursday.
She also asked the Bangladesh government to protect religious and national minorities that braved violence since her ouster from power on August 5.
‘A top leader of the Sanatan Dharma community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately. Temples have been burnt in Chittagong. In the past, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community had been attacked, vandalised, looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities must be ensured,’ the Awami League posted Hasina’s statement on X as mentioned in the report available online.
‘After the killing of countless Awami League leaders, activists, students, the public and members of the law enforcement agencies, harassment through attacks, cases and arrests is going on. I strongly condemn and protest at these anarchist actions,’ she added.
After Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been heading the interim government in Bangladesh since August 8.
Hasina also protested against killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif on the Chattogram court premises, according to the report.
‘A lawyer was killed in Chittagong. I strongly protest at this murder. Those involved in this murder must be found and punished quickly. Human rights have been grossly violated through this incident. A lawyer went to perform his professional duties, and those who beat him to death in this way are miscreants. Whoever they are, they must be punished,’ she said, the report added.
‘If the Yunus government, which seized power unconstitutionally, fails to punish these miscreants, it will also have to face punishment for violating human rights. I appeal to the countrymen to stand united against this kind of terrorism and militancy. It is important to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the common people,’ she added, the report mentions.
The lawyer was killed and 25 others were injured during a clash between followers of spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and law enforcement agencies on the Chattogram court premises on November 26 over sending Chinmoy to jail in a sedition case.