Hindu protesters: In November 2024, an incident in Hazari Lane, Chittagong, Bangladesh, was triggered by a Facebook post describing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a "terrorist organisation".
Subsequently, a mob, including members associated with ISKCON, attacked a Muslim individual who shared the post and attempted to burn down his shop in the vicinity.
According to statement from the joint forces, they were reportedly attacked by individuals in the crowd, who threw acid and other objects at them during the incident, resulting in the injuries to several personnel.
Hazari Lane, the location of the incident, is a historically Hindu-majority area and hosts approximately 150 Hindu jewellery traders at Mia Shopping Center.
[1] In late October 2024, the Hindu community held a rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong to address several grievances following violence against Hindus in the aftermath of the Student–People's uprising.
[7] These concerns were echoed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his visit to Bangladesh in October 2024.
[8] Around the same time, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Daily Amar Desh, delivered a speech in Dhaka that was critical of ISKCON.
[9][10][11][1] Osman Ali, a Muslim businessman, made a Facebook post describing ISKCON as a "terrorist organisation," which triggered anger and tension among local ISKCON-affiliated Hindus in Hazari Lane.
The situation intensified when protesters surrounded the shop of the individual who made the post, attacked the establishment, and continued their demonstration outside.
During the operation, the crowd turned on and attempted to obstruct the rescue by throwing bricks at the joint forces, while chanting "Jai Shree Ram" slogan.
Regarding the incident, Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, the General Secretary of ISKCON Bangladesh, told Deutsche Welle Bangla:[1] "We want the real perpetrators to be identified through proper investigation.
On 8 November, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist advocacy group,[18][19] organised a rally in the wake of the Hazari Lane incident at the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque square in Chittagong.
After the Friday prayer, the speakers in the rally organised in the mosque premises demanded the ban of ISKCON in Bangladesh.