Bangladesh’s financial authorities on Friday directed banks and financial institutions to freeze the accounts of 17 individuals associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das, for 30 days.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) issued the directives on Thursday, suspending all transactions for these accounts during this period, Prothom Alo reported.
The BFIU has also instructed banks to provide detailed account-related information, including updated transaction records of businesses owned by the 17 individuals, within three working days, the report added.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, who previously served as ISKCON’s spokesperson in Bangladesh, was arrested at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday in connection with a sedition case. The allegations stem from an October 25 rally in Chattogram, where a saffron flag was allegedly hoisted above the Bangladeshi national flag.
Das was denied bail during a hearing at a Chattogram court on Tuesday and was subsequently sent to jail. His arrest has triggered widespread outrage, with several groups demanding his immediate release.
The sedition case against Das and 18 others was filed on October 30 in Chittagong. It accused them of undermining national symbols and instigating unrest.