Protest Rally and Assembly Held in Faridpur Demanding Ban on ISKCON

Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Faridpur District Correspondent:

A protest procession and peaceful assembly were held in Bhanga, Faridpur, under the banner of "Tawhidi Janata (United Muslim Community) of all levels" to demand a ban on the ISKCON organization in Bangladesh. The demonstration expressed deep concern over recent incidents of alleged murder, forced disappearance, persecution, and provocative activities targeting Muslims by ISKCON across the country.

The protest march commenced on Friday, October 24, following the Juma prayers, from the Bhanga Eidgah Mosque premises. It proceeded along the main roads of the Bhanga Highway Expressway and concluded with a peaceful assembly and prayers at the Bhanga Upazila complex. Local Islamic scholars (Ulama) and general worshipers who attended the Juma prayers at the Eidgah Jame Mosque participated in the event.

Speakers at the rally included former leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bhanga: Osman Gani Akash, Mazharul Islam, and Md. Lion Molla, among others.

 * Speakers asserted that the "forced disappearances, murders, and provocative and hateful activities being conducted in the name of ISKCON pose a severe threat to the religious harmony, peace, and stability of Bangladesh."

 * Osman Gani Akash, who led the protest, appealed for unity: “We call upon all devout Muslims and the Ulema society of the country to unite in peaceful protest. Specifically, we request all respected Imams and Khateebs of the country’s mosques to bring up the issue of the terror and persecution carried out by ISKCON in their Juma sermons, so that people may know the truth and unite against this injustice.”

 * The speakers urged the government, stating: “The extremist terrorist organization ISKCON must be banned to protect religious harmony and national security. It is urgent that proper investigation and legal action be taken against ISKCON for carrying out continuous provocative and hate-based militant activities.”

The protest concluded with special prayers for the welfare of the country and its people.

During the procession and assembly, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhanga Police Station, Md. Ashraf Hossain, along with his accompanying force and other members of the law enforcement agency, were observed actively performing their duties to maintain law and order.

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