DHAKA, Bangladesh — Authorities in the capital of Bangladesh have detained a notable Hindu leader who has been vocal in advocating for the safety of Hindus amid rising tensions in the predominantly Muslim nation since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a widespread protest in August.

Members of minority communities, including Hindus, report a surge in violence against them since an interim government replaced Hasina’s administration. They allege that Islamist factions are becoming increasingly influential while security forces appear to be ineffective, leading to a perceived breakdown in law and order. Contrarily, government officials assert that concerns regarding threats to Hindus have been overstated.

In a country where approximately 91% of the population is Muslim, Hindus constitute nearly all of the remaining demographic.

Reports indicate that Krishna Das Prabhu, who is also referred to as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was apprehended at Dhaka’s main airport on Monday while en route to Chattogram in southeastern Bangladesh. Rezaul Karim Mallik, an officer from the Detective Branch of Police, confirmed the arrest. Despite this, additional officials refrained from disclosing specifics related to the allegations against Prabhu.

According to Kushal Baran Chakrabarty, who was with Prabhu during the incident, several detectives forcefully escorted the Hindu leader to a police vehicle at the airport. Chakrabarty recounted, “Chinmoy Prabhu handed his phone to me as he was forcibly taken to the police car. The detectives wrestled with us to seize his phone, which they ultimately succeeded in doing. We then followed the police vehicle to the Detective Branch headquarters located on Minto Road in Dhaka.” He noted that they remained outside the office awaiting further developments.

Prabhu is facing sedition charges stemming from a large rally he organized in Chattogram, where he allegedly showed disrespect towards the national flag. Reports suggest that he is set to appear in court on Tuesday, and that two additional individuals have also been apprehended in connection with this case.

Since August, Prabhu has led numerous protests advocating for the safety of Hindus, while the interim government, under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, insists that reports of assaults against Hindus have been exaggerated.

Many officials within the interim government regard these protests as potential threats to stability and a tactic to reinstate Hasina and her Awami League party—a political entity that has historically supported the Hindu minority and maintains strong connections with India. There is speculation that numerous supporters of Hasina, including her closest advisers, have sought refuge in India following her removal from power.

Prabhu is a well-known leader in the Hindu community and is recognized for his influence. He is affiliated with the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and is a representative for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly recognized as the Hare Krishna movement, in Bangladesh.

Following Prabhu’s arrest, his supporters staged protests in Chattogram and Dhaka on the same day, demanding his release. In the evening, a group armed with sticks assaulted Hindu demonstrators at Shahbagh intersection near Dhaka University, as noted by Kalbela, a Bengali-language newspaper that shared video footage of the incident indicating the assault forced protesters from the area.

Sheikh Hasina’s departure from Bangladesh on August 5 came after a student-led protest escalated into broader civil unrest that concluded her 15-year tenure as Prime Minister. Following her exit, security agencies have found it challenging to maintain public order, particularly as police morale has been low, exacerbated by the loss of numerous officers during the riots in July and August.