Overview
- Bangladesh's CID arrested Haridas Chandra Tarani Das on money‑laundering charges and a court remanded him to judicial custody, with authorities saying the case involves alleged suspicious transactions and past travel and conversion claims.
- Minority leaders led large protests in Dhaka on Saturday demanding Das's immediate release and calling the charges a pretext to stop construction of an 81‑foot Ram statue in Gaibandha.
- The Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali temple committee has suspended the Palashbari statue project after days of pressure from local Islamist groups and earlier reports that an image of Ram was desecrated during a rally.
- Organizers and minority rights groups say the arrest fits a broader pattern of juridical targeting and harassment of Hindus while the CID and some local actors point to concerns over funding and legal irregularities.
- Authorities have stepped up security in Palashbari and other sensitive areas and India has urged Dhaka to curb extremists and protect minorities, as human‑rights monitors point to rising incidents against Hindus this year.