ISKCON denies involvement in lawyer's killing, ongoing protests

ISKCON Bangladesh's General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari has rejected allegations linking the Hindu religious organisation to the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram and ongoing protests led by the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, or United Sanatan Awakening Alliance.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the Swamibagh Ashram, Charu Das described the Chattogram incident as "unfortunate" and claimed that there was an "unfair attempt" to falsely implicate ISKCON.

"We want to make it clear that ISKCON Bangladesh has no involvement whatsoever in this heinous incident or the ongoing protests. The lies have now reached such an extent that even road accidents are being falsely portrayed as part of ISKCON's conspiracy," he said.

This official statement came after calls from different quarters in Bangladesh to ban ISKCON, following the murder of lawyer Saiful.

Charu Das said since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on Aug 5, certain groups have been making "misleading statements and baseless allegations" to "create instability in society" and "discredit" their organisation.