Hours after Bangladeshi authorities arrested and sent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari to jail, ISKCON Bangladesh reported on Tuesday that its official social media page—critical for the promotion of Sanatan Dharma and the well-being of the Hindu community in the country—has been targeted by cybercriminals.
In a social media post, Charu Chanda Das Brahmachari, Secretary General of ISKCON Bangladesh, revealed that the organization’s official Facebook page, ISKCON TV Dhaka, had been maliciously attacked and removed by a group calling itself “Cyber Defender Bangladesh.” This group, claiming to be cybersecurity experts, publicly took responsibility for the attack, which violates Facebook’s policies and constitutes cyber harassment of the Hindu community.
“Unfortunately, our ISKCON TV Dhaka page was targeted and taken down by this group. This platform is integral for promoting Sanatan Dharma, ISKCON’s teachings, and Hindu spiritual values. Such acts are deeply distressing and unacceptable,” said Charu Chanda Das.
The attack was not limited to ISKCON TV Dhaka. Other significant platforms, including Mayapur TV, Jayapataka Swami Bangla, and the ISKCON Youth Forum Sylhet, were also targeted, causing widespread disruption.
In response, ISKCON has taken immediate action. “We have filed a General Diary (GD) with the Bangladesh Police and are in continuous communication with the Cyber Crime Investigation Department, DMP, Dhaka. The Deputy Commissioner of Cyber Crime Investigation has assured us of strict action against the perpetrators. We trust their support and are hopeful for swift justice,” Charu Chanda Das said.
He also highlighted the efforts of Garuda Cyber Shield, a team of dedicated Hindu cyber experts providing voluntary support to safeguard ISKCON’s online platforms. While the team successfully restored the ISKCON TV Dhaka page once, it was taken down again by the attackers. “Despite this setback, Garuda Cyber Shield continues its efforts to restore the page and enhance its security. Cyber harassment is a crime, and such attacks on religious platforms should not be tolerated,” he emphasized.
Charu Chanda Das also criticized Bangladeshi authorities for arresting Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who is closely associated with ISKCON Bangladesh.
The priest was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday. He was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong’s 6th Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday morning, where his bail plea was rejected, and he was sent to jail.
ISKCON Bangladesh, along with other Hindu organizations, has condemned the arrest, urging the Indian government to intervene. In a statement released late Monday, ISKCON said, “It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON is a peace-loving Bhakti movement. We urge the Indian government to speak to the Bangladeshi authorities and ensure the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das.”
The organization further highlighted its prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of devotees and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting harmony and spirituality despite the challenges posed by such attacks.
(Inputs from IANS)