Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Fifty-four members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) were denied permission to travel to India through the Benapole immigration check post in Jessore’s Sharsha upazila.
The devotees, who came from various districts in Bangladesh, arrived at the Benapole border on Saturday evening and Sunday morning intending to cross into India.
However, the immigration police did not allow them to proceed, citing "suspicious travel."
Saurabh Tapander Cheli, an Iskcon member, expressed his frustration, saying: “I came to attend a religious ceremony in India. But immigration authorities sent me back without providing any explanation.”
Another devotee echoed the sentiment, stating that they intended to perform religious rituals but were turned away by immigration officials without a clear reason.
Benapole Immigration Checkpost Officer-in-Charge (OC) Imtiaz Md Ahsanul Quader Bhuiya confirmed the decision.
“We did not allow 54 Bangladeshi passengers to travel to India due to suspicions regarding their travel purposes,” he said.
No further details were provided on the nature of the suspicions or whether the individuals would be allowed to attempt travel again.
