Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) Bangladesh today (28 November) rejected allegations of its links with the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram, while washing its hands off of any affair related to expelled leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
At a press conference at its Dhaka headquarters, General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said, "Iskcon Bangladesh has never been involved in conflict, communal or otherwise, and continues to promote unity and harmony."
He said a group, however, continues to spread false and malicious information about the organisation.
He also said Chinmoy Krishna Das, Lilraj Gaur Das and Swatantra Gauranga Das had been previously removed from the organisation for breach of organizational discipline.
Brahmachari said Chinmoy was not a spokesperson for Iskcon and his statements were completely personal.
"Therefore, Iskcon Bangladesh is not responsible in any way for the statements and actions of Lilraj Gaur Das, Gauranga Das and Chinmoy Krishna Das," he said.
At the event, Iskcon Bangladesh President Satya Ranjan Baroi expressed condolences for the family of Saiful Islam Alif and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Earlier, on Tuesday (26 November) at around 11am, when former Iskcon Bangladesh leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was produced before the court of Chattogram 6th Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam, his lawyers applied for bail. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail and ordered him to be sent to jail.
A large group of people believed to be supporters of former Iskcon Bangladesh leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari blocked the prison van carrying him to jail for about two and a half hours. Later, the police dispersed the protesters by throwing sound grenades and took Chinmoy to jail.
Severely injured during the protest, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was rescued from the alley of Rangam Convention Hall opposite the main entrance to the court and taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident led to several calls coming in demanding the ban of Iskcon.
