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Chinmoy Krishna Das has become the face of persecution in Bangladesh following his arrest on November 25 last year on charges of sedition
As the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard will serve as President Donald Trump’s top intelligence adviser and play a crucial role in shaping US national security policies. (AP)
Just days after Tulsi Gabbard took oath of office of the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on the Bhagavad Gita, a UK-based body has written a letter to her, appealing to ensure the release of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das who has been languishing in Bangladesh prison for raising the voice of persecuted Hindus.
Secular Bangladesh Movement, UK — given Gabbard’s past association with ISKCON like its 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Washington in 2016 when she was a keynote speaker — urged her to intervene in the matter of “unjust detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das, an ISKCON monk”. “I urge you to use your platform to demand the release of Chinmay Krishna Das and pressure the Yunus government to stop the persecution of Hindus,” the letter reads.
The Hindu monk has become the face of persecution in Bangladesh following his arrest on November 25 last year. He has been languishing in jail ever since, slapped with charges of sedition. He previously held the position of divisional organising secretary for ISKCON in Chattogram and was the nucleus of the protests against minority persecution of the Yunus regime. His case is either not allowed to be heard in court or the proceedings threatened by radical elements.
Secular Bangladesh Movement, UK, has made a three-point appeal to Gabbard — release of Chinmay Das, condemnation of atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus, and international intervention. “Encourage the international community, including the United Nations, to take notice of the situation and provide support to protect the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh,” says the letter, a copy of which is in possession of News18.
As the DNI, Gabbard will serve as President Donald Trump’s top intelligence adviser and play a crucial role in shaping US national security policies. On the personal front, she values the Bhagavad Gita and her family is closely associated with the Vaishnava-affiliated Science of Identity Foundation (SIF). Secular Bangladesh Movement believes she is in a unique position to help the persecuted Hindus of Bangladesh.
Pushpita Gupta, president of the organisation, writes: “Your voice can make a significant difference in bringing attention to this critical issue. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively to demand justice and protection for Hindus in Bangladesh.”
The Centre, in the Winter Session of Parliament, gave a reply that there have been 2,200 incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in 2024 (till December 8, 2024) with a considerable number taking place after Sheikh Hasina’s exit. To put things into perspective, there have been 302 such instances of violence against Hindus in 2023 in Bangladesh.
- Location :
United Kingdom (UK)