Bangladesh: ISKCON claims its Dhaka centre burned down by miscreants

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Saturday claimed that its centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been burned down.

ISKCON’s Kolkata vice president, Radharamn Das, confirmed the development on X by posting: “Another ISKCON Namhatta Centre burned down in Bangladesh. The Deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and all items inside the temple, were burned down completely.”

He shared an image of the damaged centre on the social media site.

“The center is located in Dhaka. Early morning today, between 2-3 AM, miscreants set fire to the Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple and the Shri Shri Mahabhagya Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which fall under the Hare Krishna Namhatta Sangha, located in Dhour village, under then jurisdiction of Turag Police Station, Dhaka district,” Das said.

Das said: “The fire was initiated by lifting the tin roof at the back of the temple and using petrol or octane. Address: H-02, R-05, Ward-54, DNCC, Dhaka 1230.”

Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, ever since former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government collapsed and the interim government took charge of the South Asian country in August.

ISKCON properties have been attacked across Bangladesh in the past couple of months since Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government.

The Hindus have been protesting against the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das over sedition charges.