Bangladesh stops 54 Iskcon members from crossing into India

way2barak, 2 December: Bangladesh’s immigration authorities at the Benapole border crossing turned away 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) on Sunday, despite them possessing valid passports and visas.

The immigration police cited a lack of specific government approval for their travel as the reason for barring their entry. “We consulted the special branch of police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them (to cross the border),” said officer-in-charge of Benapole immigration police, Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan.

He added that while the devotees carried valid passports and visas, they were “lacking specific government permission.”

The group of 54 members, including devotees from various districts in Bangladesh, had arrived at the check post between Saturday night and Sunday morning. They waited for hours, hoping for permission to proceed, only to be informed their travel was not authorized.

“We came to participate in a religious ceremony taking place in India, but immigration officials stopped us, citing the absence of government permission,” said Iskcon members.