Islamist rallies in Bangladesh demand ban on ISKCON: How Yunus is allowing hardliners to set the agenda

(FILES) Hefazat-e-Islam supporters stage a protest after Friday prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, demanding an immediate ban on International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

The rise of Islamist influence under Muhammad Yunus’ interim government in Bangladesh has entered a dangerous new phase. On Friday, after Jummah prayers, the streets of major Bangladeshi cities, including Dhaka and Chattogram, witnessed massive rallies demanding a nationwide ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The protests, led by radical groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam and Intifada Bangladesh, branded ISKCON as an “extremist Hindutva organisation”. Their demands come amid growing attacks on Hindu temples and ISKCON centres following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, and as Yunus’ administration faces mounting allegations of sheltering Islamist elements.

Yunus government labels ISKCON 'religious fundamentalist'

In a development that has alarmed minority rights groups, the Yunus-led interim administration described ISKCON as a “religious fundamentalist organisation” in its official response to a High Court writ petition seeking the group’s ban. The statement, critics say, reflects a broader institutional bias against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority and an effort to appease extremist factions.

While Muhammad Yunus publicly denies reports of murders, assaults, and intimidation against minorities, his government’s actions suggest otherwise. Since taking power, Dhaka has grown visibly closer to Islamabad, creating political space for hardline Islamist networks to regroup and expand.

Massive rallies in Dhaka and Chattogram

The Intifada Bangladesh held a large demonstration outside Dhaka’s Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, where it outlined six demands, including an immediate ban on ISKCON and legal action against its members.

Anti-India terrorist Jasimuddin Rahmani, chief of the al-Qaida-affiliated Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), declared, “ISKCON is not a Hindu organisation. It is an extremist organisation created by Jews,” according to Dhaka-based Bangla daily Desh Rupantor. Rahmani added, “They are committing one crime after another. Banning ISKCON is the demand of the hour.”

Rahmani was released from prison shortly after Yunus’ government came to power in August 2024, in what observers see as a disturbing sign of Dhaka’s shifting sympathies.

At the same rally, Intifada Bangladesh member Ahmed Rafique alleged, “When an imam spoke out against ISKCON, he was abducted, tied in chains, and beaten. Yet the state remains silent, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.” He further claimed that the authorities are more concerned about “what the West, America, leftists, or foreign embassies will say than about what Allah will say.”

In Chattogram, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh staged its own demonstration outside the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, echoing similar demands. “Just as the Awami League has been banned for involvement in crimes, and senior army officers have been brought under trial for wrongdoing, ISKCON as an extremist organisation must also be brought under the law,” an unnamed speaker told The Business Standard.

The speaker further said, “We call on the government to immediately declare this terrorist organisation banned. Banning ISKCON is the only way to preserve peace and communal harmony in the country.”

Islamist leaders accuse ISKCON of acting for India

Ashraf Ali Nizampuri, central joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam and a teacher at Hathazari Madrasa, claimed that ISKCON functions as an “agent of India” and engages in “subversive activities against Muslims.”

“In this country, the extremist Hindutva ISKCON acts as an agent of India, engaged in subversive activities against Muslims,” Nizampuri said during a gathering in Hathazari, Chattogram District. He also alleged, “ISKCON has built one establishment after another across the country in the name of temples, following Israeli methods, and has oppressed weaker Sanatan community members. By using the influence of a neighbouring state's high commission, ISKCON has managed to secure support from sections of the administration, bureaucracy, and intelligence agencies to continue its Hindutva activities.”

ISKCON under siege since Hasina’s ouster

The attacks on ISKCON facilities and the imprisonment of its leaders began soon after Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power. Prominent Hindu leader and former ISKCON member Krishna Das Prabhu remains behind bars for advocating better treatment of minorities.

Islamist groups have accused ISKCON of “land grabbing, money laundering, and extremist activities,” though these allegations have not been substantiated. In January, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the accounts of 17 ISKCON members, including former leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, citing money laundering claims.

A history of service ignored

Contrary to the propaganda from Islamist groups, ISKCON has been a cornerstone of humanitarian service in Bangladesh since the 1970s. Its “Food for Life” program fed millions after the Liberation War of 1971 and during natural disasters. The organisation has established schools for underprivileged children, orphanages, and old-age homes, and runs free medical camps that serve citizens of all faiths.

Yet, under the Yunus administration, this legacy of compassion is being erased. The ongoing campaign against ISKCON mirrors the systematic targeting of minorities in Bangladesh and underscores how Islamist factions have come to dictate the political and social narrative of the country.

Dhaka’s dangerous drift

The calls to ban ISKCON reveal more than religious intolerance; they expose the state’s willingness to indulge hardliners for political stability. By aligning with Islamist voices and dismissing violence against minorities as “fabricated media narratives,” the Yunus government risks undoing decades of Bangladesh’s pluralist foundations.

As the streets of Dhaka and Chattogram fill with hate-filled slogans, the silence of the state grows louder.