Honeymoon Over

Listen to Today's Edition:

The arrest of a prominent Hindu leader on sedition charges triggered violent clashes in Bangladesh this week, leaving one person dead and escalating tensions with neighboring India, which has expressed concern over the safety of minorities in the Muslim-majority country, the BBC reported.

On Monday, authorities detained Krishna Das Prabhu, a monk with the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and spokesperson for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), over allegations of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during an October rally in the southern city of Chittagong.

He was denied bail Tuesday, which sparked protests by his supporters.

Hundreds of Prabhu’s followers surrounded the police van that was transporting him back to prison. The incident sparked clashes that saw security forces using tear gas, batons, and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

During the chaos, a Muslim lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, was killed, though the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Prabhu’s supporters denied involvement and demanded an investigation.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, lawyers across the country boycotted the courts in protest at the killing of their colleague, the Associated Press added.

Police have since arrested six suspects in connection with the killing and another 21 individuals for vandalism and violence against security forces. The conflict has left scores injured, and authorities are on high alert to prevent further unrest.

India, which has been long criticized for its persecution of its Muslim minority, voiced concerns about the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh, urging the interim Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of minorities.

Bangladesh dismissed the statement, saying its larger neighbor was interfering in its internal affairs.

The tensions come at a time of strained relations between the two countries following the ousting of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Hasina, a close ally of India during her 15-year tenure, has been living in exile in that country since she was forced to flee.

Since her deposing, Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh have complained of increasing attacks against their communities, though the interim government of Muhammad Yunus countered that the threat to Hindus has been exaggerated.

Hindus make up around eight percent of Bangladesh’s population of 173 million. About 91 percent of Bangladeshis are Muslim.