Tension grips Bangladesh over Facebook post about Iskcon

In Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong, a clash between the Hindu community and the law enforcement forces took place in the midst of a tense situation over a Facebook post criticizing ISKCON. Due to this, the joint forces of police and army conducted an operation there on Tuesday night.

“A local Muslim youth reportedly uploaded a post on Facebook criticizing ISKCON. The angry Hindu community people protested and clashed with the law-enforcing agencies. They threw bricks and other objects at the police. After the clashes, a joint operation conducted by law enforcing agencies, comprising police and army", Saifuddin Tuhin, a local reporter from Chittagong told ANI over the phone.

As per a report by the Bangla Daily, Prothom Alo, blank shots were also fired during the operation.

Recently some individuals and groups have demanded a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh. ISKCON leaders in Dhaka recently asked "Amar Desh" editor Mahmudur Rahman to apologize for demanding the banning of ISKCON. A group called "Inqilab Manch" demanded the banning of ISKCON.

Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population, have traditionally supported Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.

On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.