“Ban ISKCON Now”: Nationwide Protests Across Bangladesh, Religious Tensions Escalate

Darwin, October 25 — Protests demanding a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) have taken place in Chattogram, Kishoreganj, Kushtia Islamic University, Gopalganj University of Science and Technology, Dhaka College, and around the National Mosque, Baitul Mukarram.

These anti-ISKCON demonstrations were held on Friday following Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers.

In Chattogram, Hefazat-e-Islam organized a rally and protest march in front of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, demanding that ISKCON be banned.

Similar demonstrations were held in Patiya under the banner of “All Ulama and People,” and in Hathazari by Hefazat-e-Islam.

At the city rally, Hefazat leaders accused ISKCON followers of being involved in various incidents including the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif and several rape cases, calling for a government ban on the organization.

Hefazat leaders said:

“Just as the Awami League was banned for involvement in crimes, and high-ranking military officers were brought to justice for wrongdoing, ISKCON—an extremist organization—must also be brought under the law. They murdered Advocate Alif, they are committing rapes across the country, attacking Islamic scholars and imams, and are linked to disappearances in Gazipur.”

They urged the government to declare ISKCON a terrorist organization immediately, stating:

“To preserve peace, order, and communal harmony in the country, there is no alternative but to ban ISKCON.”

The Chattogram rally was presided over by Hefazat’s Central Nayeb-e-Ameer Ali Osman and conducted by City Publicity Secretary Iqbal Khalil. Among the speakers were Central Joint Secretary Generals Mufti Harun Izhar and Nasir Munir, Youth Affairs Secretary Kamrul Islam, and others.

Protest at Baitul Mukarram

At the north gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, a group named Intifada Bangladesh held a protest rally. Students of Dhaka College also brought out a march from their central mosque, while in Kishoreganj, the “All Muslim Tawhidi People” group organized a rally from the historic Shahidi Mosque.

Intifada Bangladesh held a protest at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque on Friday demanding a ban on ISKCON.

Intifada Bangladesh issued six demands, including an investigation into ISKCON’s alleged criminal involvement and, if proven, a government ban.

Their demands were:

1. The police department involved in the Gazipur rape case must publicly apologize and ensure transparency instead of blaming the victim; those responsible must be arrested and given swift, exemplary punishment.

2. Conduct a fair and speedy investigation into the Tongi abduction and murder case and punish the culprits.

3. Form a national policy to combat “institutional Islamophobia” and anti-Islamic behavior at the state level.

4. Form a specific policy and legal protection framework for the safety and dignity of Muslim women.

5. Ensure the security of imams, citizens, and organizations fighting against Islamophobia.

Ahmad Rafiq, a member of Intifada Bangladesh, said:

“Muslim women are being raped and the perpetrators boast about it. A khatib was abducted and tortured for speaking against ISKCON. The state remains silent while the administration shelters the offenders. Civil society is silent, and politicians are busy with their own image.”

He criticized political leaders, saying:

“They care about what the West or the U.S. will say, or what the embassies think—but not about what Allah will say. Their silence in the face of injustice is itself a crime.”

He declared:

“We will no longer stay silent. From the land of Hazrat Shahjalal, Shah Paran, and Shah Makhdum, we declare—enough is enough!”

After the short rally, the protesters marched toward Shapla Chattar.

Dhaka College Protest

After Friday prayers, students of Dhaka College brought out a rally from the central mosque, which marched around Science Lab intersection and ended at the college gate.

They chanted slogans such as:

“No place for ISKCON in Golden Bengal,”
“No ISKCON in the land of Liberation War,”
“What is the administration doing about ISKCON’s abductions?”
“Ban, ban, ban ISKCON!”

Students said:

“We saw how ISKCON terrorists brutally killed our brother Advocate Alif and how our sister Asha Moni was raped in Gazipur. The khatib from Tongi Mosque was abducted and later found chained in Panchagarh. We strongly condemn and protest these acts.”

They declared that ISKCON must be immediately designated as a terrorist organization and banned from operating in Bangladesh.

Protest in Kishoreganj

In Kishoreganj, the protest march started from the Shahidi Mosque and paraded through major streets before ending at the same spot with a large rally.

Speakers described the recent incidents of rape, murder, and religious insult as alarming and demanded strict action and exemplary punishment for the offenders.

They alleged that ISKCON’s activities are harming Bangladesh’s interfaith harmony and promoting extremist Hindutva ideology.

They called for the immediate ban of ISKCON and similar organizations.

Islamic University Protest (Kushtia)

Students of Islamic University also protested on Friday, starting from the central mosque and marching across the campus.

Chanting slogans such as “Hang the rapists,” “ISKCON, you are RSS’s branch,” and “Ban ISKCON now,” hundreds joined the protest.

The university’s central mosque imam, Ashraf Uddin Khan, said:

“It is crystal clear that ISKCON is not preaching religion but spreading RSS’s extremist Hindutva agenda in disguise. They have expanded in Bangladesh under state patronage. Even the former regime granted them land in Uttara. Now they are insulting our faith and violating the honor of Muslim women. ISKCON must be banned immediately.”

He added that ISKCON is already banned in countries like Singapore and Afghanistan, and questioned how it continues to operate freely in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Gopalganj University of Science & Technology Protest

Students of Gopalganj University of Science and Technology also held a protest after Friday prayers, demanding a ban on ISKCON and justice for the recent abduction and torture of a mosque khatib in Tongi.

Physics student Raihan said:

“We are deeply concerned about the current situation. The abduction of an imam from Tongi raises serious questions about the role of the administration. The brutal killing of Advocate Saiful Islam also remains unanswered. Authorities must take responsibility and ensure justice.”

Earlier, on Thursday night, students of Dhaka University held a similar protest at the base of the Raju Memorial sculpture, also demanding a ban on ISKCON.

Jahangirnagar University Protest

Students of Jahangirnagar University also marched on campus to protest “Hindutva aggression” and the abduction of the Tongi khatib.

Chanting slogans such as “ISKCON, you are the partner of dictatorship,” and “Break ISKCON’s black hand,” they demanded the organization be banned.

According to reports, the khatib had delivered a sermon against “Hindutva expansion” and “love traps,” after which he received threats in letters allegedly from ISKCON. He was later abducted and found chained to a tree in Panchagarh on October 23.