BNP expresses deep concern regarding India's comments on ISKCON

BNP has voiced strong concerns over India’s remarks following the arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and subsequent attacks on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions. The party's top policymakers sharply criticised India’s response, labeling it as unwarranted interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, which they deemed contrary to diplomatic norms.

During a meeting at the BNP chief's Gulshan office on Monday, the standing committee discussed several issues, including Chinmoy's arrest, the violent incidents that ensued (resulting in the death of a lawyer), attacks on Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commission in Agartala and Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and India’s foreign ministry's “controversial” remarks.

A BNP policymaker, speaking anonymously to The Daily Star, noted that while Bangladesh has traditionally avoided commenting on India’s internal communal issues, India’s recent stance toward Bangladesh marks a sudden shift. BNP policymakers accused Indian media and officials of exacerbating tensions after the arrest of the Hindu leader and incidents involving ISKCON in Bangladesh, suggesting these actions were part of a premeditated effort to destabilise Bangladesh and portray it as a communal state.

BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, called for patience and restraint in addressing these tensions. Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a statement condemning the attacks on Bangladesh’s missions as violations of the Geneva Convention. Fakhrul highlighted that the assault on the Assistant High Commission, including the desecration of Bangladesh’s flag, appeared preplanned and constituted a breach of the Vienna Convention. He urged the Indian government and its citizens to refrain from using Bangladesh as a scapegoat in their domestic political agendas, warning of long-term consequences for bilateral relations. Fakhrul also expressed hope that India would respect the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people.

During the meeting, BNP leaders expressed confusion over India’s sudden focus on Bangladesh’s internal matters, despite Bangladesh’s restraint in reacting to India’s communal incidents. They accused Indian authorities and media of waging a deliberate campaign to portray Bangladesh as communal and unstable. The standing committee alleged that claims of communal violence in Bangladesh were being used as a pretext for Indian interference, while accusing the ruling Awami League of complicity in these incidents as a distraction from domestic issues.

The party announced plans to hold a press conference to present a documentary on India’s recent and historical actions involving Bangladesh. BNP also revealed intentions to publish a white paper on corruption and economic mismanagement under the Awami League’s 15-year rule, highlighting an alleged $28 billion lost to money laundering. Additionally, the party will host a grand concert on December 16, focusing on Bangladeshi culture and patriotism, explicitly excluding artists from India or Pakistan.