Staff Reporter:
The High Court has refused to pass a suo moto order banning the activities of ISKCON in Bangladesh, expressing satisfaction with the government’s measures to deal with the issue lawfully.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury came up with the decision on Thursday after the attorney general’s office informed it of the government’s steps.
“We’re satisfied to hear that the government has been attaching the highest priority to this issue,” the HC bench said while hearing a writ petition filed seeking a ban on the ISKCON activities in the wake of the murder of a young lawyer by the supporters of its former leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chattogram.
The court also expressed the hope that harmony and friendship among the people of all religions will prevail across the country and it will not be frustrated in the future.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Monir Uddin filed the writ on Wednesday.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer said it was the right time to ban the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Md Asad Uddin at that time informed the court of the steps taken by the government regarding the issue. Later, the court responded to the petitioner’s lawyer that the government would certainly look into it.
The state lawyers told the court that the government is investigating the murder with the highest priority. Three separate cases have been filed and a total of 33 people were arrested for their suspected involvement in the killing.
Six people who were directly involved in the killing have already been identified after examining the CCTV footage.
They also said the government has taken a firm stance against any attempt to create unrest or chaos centring on the murder of the lawyer following the arrest of a former ISKCON leader.
After the submission of the attorney general’s office, the court said they are satisfied with the government for its steps. “We hope all will be satisfied hearing the news and we don’t want any further damage to the life and property,” said the HC bench.
“People of our country are harmonious and love to stay friendly with all other religions. We have friendly relations with all of our neighbours and hope it’ll continue,” the court observed.
