In a surprising move, at least 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were stopped from entering India at the Benapole border. Though they had valid travel documents, Bangladesh’s immigration officials said their travel was “suspicious.” Some reports suggest that more than 70 Hindus were trying to cross the border.
One of the ISKCON members, Saurabh Tapandar Cheli, explained that they planned to attend a religious ceremony in India. However, immigration officials told them they needed permission from the government to enter. Benapole’s Immigration Checkpost Officer, Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan, stated that they acted based on orders from higher authorities and consulted the police.
The ISKCON group claimed they did not receive clear reasons for their denial at the border, even though they had the correct passports and visas.
This incident comes amid rising tensions in Bangladesh, where Hindu minorities have faced violence from radical Islamist groups. Earlier in the week, India raised concerns about Chinmoy Krishna Das, a member of ISKCON in Bangladesh, who was arrested and denied bail.
Protests broke out in India, especially in West Bengal, where many people called for justice. The Indian government expressed worry about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh and the rights of minorities to protest peacefully.
Street protests were planned by the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, which is linked to a more radical group named Jamaat-e-Islami, demanding a ban on ISKCON.
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