Dhaka – Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested a prominent leader of a minority religious group following a series of protest rallies against reported attacks on Hindu minorities in the aftermath of the violent uprising that led to the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a priest and leader of the Bangladesh United Sanatan Awakening Alliance, was detained by police at Dhaka airport on Monday, Rezaul Karim Mallik, an officer at the detective branch of police in Dhaka said.
He was preparing to board a flight to the eastern city of Chattogram, when he was detained.
A group of Hindus brought out a procession in Dhaka’s Shahbagh to protest the arrest of Das. But stick wielding rivals foiled their attempt to gather in the evening.
Das, along with other Hindu leaders, had formed the alliance, a coalition of Hindu minority groups, to protest reported attacks on religious minorities in the recent weeks.
Large rallies in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rangpur, drawing thousands of participants, had called for protections for minority communities. They also demanded action against those responsible for the violence.
Das was named as one of the accused in a sedition case filed following the rally in Chattogram on October 25.
The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, an umbrella organization representing religious minorities, condemned Das’s arrest in a statement, demanding his immediate release.
“This arrest raises concerns about Bangladesh’s reputation regarding freedom of expression and human rights,” the statement read.
Earlier this month, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus while talking to media Indian media for exaggerating the attacks Hindus, who comprise roughly 8 percent of Bangladesh’s population of nearly 170 million.
Bangladesh chapter of Transparency International, a Berlin-based rights advocacy group, reported that communal violence between August 5 and August 20 alone had resulted in nine deaths.
Over 1,000 Hindu-owned properties were reportedly attacked during that period.
Hindus are widely perceived to support the Awami League, the party of ousted prime minister Hasina.
