Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ After the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, a surge in attacks targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu minority has escalated, drawing international attention and condemnation. Among the most alarming developments is a large-scale online campaign calling for the ban of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a global Hindu religious organization. This comes amid rising communal violence and radical Islamic rhetoric against Hindu establishments and communities across the country.
The campaign, which has gained significant traction on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, demands the government outlaw ISKCON, accusing the group of promoting Hindu interests at the expense of Bangladesh’s Islamic majority. The call for the ISKCON ban follows a series of violent incidents, including attacks on ISKCON temples and Hindus, after the fall of Hasina’s government.
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Radical islamist groups fueling violence
Radical Islamist groups largely fuel calls to ban ISKCON. Lawbreakers attacked the first ISKCON temple in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, shortly after Hasina’s ouster. Accordingly, these radical groups have issued explicit threats against the Hindu religious group, calling for its eradication from Bangladesh. The group has also advocated for violence, with aggressive slogans that threaten to kill them, thereby warning of a brutal counterattack if the government does not meet their demands.
Furthermore, videos of recent rallies, where Islamist groups openly declared their intent to target ISKCON devotees, have stirred fear among the Hindu minority. Notably, a rally leader made a chilling statement, warning that if ISKCON remains unbanned, they will brutally kill ISKCON devotees to purify Bangladesh from Hindus. This slogan sparked outrage both within the country and abroad. These threats highlight the growing vulnerability of ISKCON temples and Hindus in Bangladesh, which has already witnessed multiple instances of communal violence targeting Hindu places of worship.
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Online campaigns against ISKCON
The demand for an ISKCON ban has gained momentum online, with an overwhelming number of anti-Hindu posts flooding social media. Hashtags such as #BanISKCON, #ISKCONmustbebanned, and #HindutvaPropaganda have gone viral, with many accusing ISKCON of being a terrorist organization and promoting Hindu extremism. The hashtag #BanISKCON alone appeared in over 1,800 posts on X within just a week, drawing attention to the scale of the online hate against the organization.
Many posts suggest that ISKCON is an agent of Indian interests, linking the campaign against the organization to broader anti-India sentiments. One post on X claimed, “Bangladeshis are asking to #BanISKCON because it is harbouring Indian Hindu RSS terrorists.” These accusations paint ISKCON as a tool for advancing India’s political agenda, alleging that it promotes Hindu nationalism at the expense of Bangladesh’s Islamic identity.
Following accusations of violence during a protest on November 5, 2024, the allegations against ISKCON escalated. A Facebook post accusing ISKCON of terrorism sparked the protest, resulting in clashes that escalated tensions further. Many of the accounts promoting the campaign against ISKCON are also linked to other anti-India and anti-Awami League movements, including hashtags like #IndiaOut and #BoycottIndia. These coordinated efforts highlight the interplay between political turmoil in Bangladesh and the growing targeting of Hindu religious groups.
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International outrage and support for ISKCON
Amidst this rising tide of hate, ISKCON has received support from various international communities, who have defended the organization’s peaceful mission. The organization’s president, Satya Ranjan Barai, responded to the allegations, stating that ISKCON is not an agent of any government but a humanitarian group that serves all people, regardless of religion. “ISKCON is an international organization, and nowhere in the world has such incidents happened. We are not agents of any country’s intelligence agency but work for the welfare of humanity,” Barai emphasized.
Despite ISKCON’s peaceful endeavors, the organization has faced hostility from radical groups who accuse it of attempting to interfere in Bangladesh’s politics by supporting Hasina’s government and promoting Hindu interests. Extreme online posts have even suggested a connection between ISKCON and Israel, intensifying the unfounded conspiracy theories surrounding the group.
Government’s silence and mounting pressures
The online campaign against ISKCON has drawn sharp criticism from those defending religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh. However, chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s interim government in Bangladesh has yet to issue an official statement condemning the threats against ISKCON. This silence has raised concerns among the Hindu community, who fear that the lack of action from the authorities may encourage the perpetrators of such hate campaigns.
ISKCON has long played a central role in Bangladesh’s Hindu community, which makes up about 10% of the country’s population. Despite the peaceful spiritual practices it promotes, ISKCON has faced increasing hostility, particularly from radical Islamist factions who see its presence as a challenge to the country’s Islamic identity. The current situation is a reflection of the fragile religious harmony in Bangladesh, with growing tensions threatening the safety and well-being of minority communities.
Religious harmony is in question.
Furthermore, the ongoing campaign to ban ISKCON and the escalating violence against Hindu institutions in Bangladesh are part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance. As the international community watches closely, the Bangladeshi government faces mounting pressure to take decisive action in protecting the rights and safety of its minority groups. Until then, the future of religious tolerance and minority rights in Bangladesh remains uncertain.
