On Tuesday, India condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent Hindu priest and leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, calling for the protection of religious minorities in the country. Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested on Monday afternoon at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A Dhaka court denied him bail on Tuesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing deep concern over the arrest, which is connected to a sedition case filed against him and 18 others in Chattogram on October 31. The MEA highlighted the troubling context of rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.

The arrest follows protests by the Hindu community in Rangpur, a city located north of Dhaka, demanding stronger legal protections for minorities and the establishment of a ministry dedicated to addressing minority affairs. The statement from the Indian government emphasized that Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh have faced numerous attacks, including arson, theft, vandalism, and desecration of temples, with the perpetrators remaining unpunished. The MEA called attention to the unfortunate irony that Chinmoy Krishna Das, a religious leader, was arrested for presenting peaceful demands for minority rights, while extremists continue to target vulnerable communities.

India's statement also raised concerns over the treatment of peaceful protesters in Bangladesh, urging the authorities to ensure the safety and security of minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. The political tensions in Bangladesh have escalated, particularly following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with the current military-backed interim government under Mohammed Yunus facing criticism for not doing enough to prevent violence against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, who make up around 8% of the country’s 170 million population.