U.K. MP Bob Blackman Condemns Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, Calls for Religious Freedom
London, Nov 29 – Bob Blackman, a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) in the U.K., has sharply criticized the interim government of Bangladesh over the ongoing persecution of the Hindu community following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Blackman condemned the violence targeting Hindus and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent member of both the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), expressing grave concern over religious freedom in the country.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Blackman shared, “I condemned the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Freedom of religion must be preserved globally.” He further highlighted his concern over an attempt by Bangladesh’s High Court to ban ISKCON, calling the move a direct threat to the country’s minorities. “We have fought for the freedom of Bangladeshis, and we cannot allow any government there to persecute minorities,” he added.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, also known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was arrested on Monday by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. His arrest has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among the Hindu community, leading to protests in the city of Chittagong, where demonstrators rallied at Cheragi intersection, calling for his immediate release.
The protests were met with a heavy-handed response from law enforcement, with videos circulating on social media showing police officers targeting the demonstrators. The unrest comes amid a larger wave of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, with reports of vandalism, looting, arson, and land grabbing. These attacks have escalated since the installation of the interim government under Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.
In response to the violence, the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad, an alliance of religious organizations, issued an open letter to Yunus. The letter expressed deep concern over the “unprecedented violence” faced by the minority communities, calling for immediate action to protect their rights and preserve religious freedoms.
The escalating situation in Bangladesh has drawn international condemnation, with calls for the restoration of religious freedoms and the protection of minorities. The British MP’s comments underscore the growing global concern over the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh, especially in the wake of the new interim government’s policies.
