As attacks on monks and minorities, especially Hindus, increase in Bangladesh, Iskcon Kolkata has advised their colleagues and followers in the neighbouring country to avoid wearing saffron clothes, wipe off tilak, hide tulsi beads and keep head cover to stay safe.
The advisory has been issued by the vice president and spokesperson of Kolkata’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), Radharamn Das, after multiple monks and its members were allegedly threatened and assaulted in public last week.
According to a report by The Times of India, Radharamn Das said he has advised monks and members of the order to practise their faith inside temples and homes, but take utmost precaution when stepping outside.
“I have been advising all monks and members that in this hour of crisis, they must be very careful to protect themselves and avoid conflict. I have suggested they avoid wearing saffron clothes and vermilion on their foreheads,” Radharamn Das was quoted as saying by ToI.
“If they feel the need to wear saffron strings, they should wear them in a manner that remains hidden inside clothes and not visible around necks. If possible, they should also cover their heads. In short, they should take every possible measure that doesn’t stand out as monks,” he further said.
Radharamn Das further said that the need of the hour is to stay safe.
In Bangladesh, Iskcon monks are reportedly being attacked since the arrest of Hindu priest and Iskcon member Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Dhaka on November 25 on charges of sedition.
Couple of days later, two of his juniors, who went to serve medicine to him in jail, were also arrested.
Over the weekend, some 63 Iskcon monks — all nationals of Bangladesh — donned in saffron clothes, were barred from crossing over to India by Bangladeshi immigration and were sent back from Benapole border checkpoint for “suspicious activities”. However, many others were allowed to pass through.
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The monks were barred from entering India even though they had valid passports and visas.
In a post on X, Radharamn Das shared that advocate Ramen Roy, who was defending Chinmoy Das in a legal case in Bangladesh was brutally attacked and is now fighting for his life in ICU.
The Iskcon Kolkata spokesperson said that Roy’s only “fault” was defending Prabhu in court, and a group of Islamists ransacked his home.
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In his conversation with a Bengali news channel, Radharamn Das said that the assault on Roy “reflects the growing danger faced by those who defend the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh.”
With inputs from agencies.
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‘Be very careful’: Iskcon Kolkata advises Bangladesh monks to avoid saffron robes, tilak on forehead
