Bangladesh Rath Yatra 2025: ISKCON to host nine-day festival, first big event after Chinmoy Das controversy, check routes and timings

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will celebrate the traditional nine-day Rath Yatra festival of Sri Sri Jagannath Dev in Bangladesh with tight security in place. An ISKCON priest said the celebrations in Dhaka will begin on Friday. “Rath Yatra is one of the most important festivals in Sanatan Dharma. Like every year, ISKCON has planned many events in Dhaka to mark the occasion,” the priest shared.

He also said that Rath Yatra is a festival full of devotion, peace, and the joyful chanting of Harinama (God’s name). The event will begin on Friday, June 27, at 3:00 PM.

Bangladesh Rath Yatra routes

As per ISKCON’s announcement, the chariot will travel through several key areas in Dhaka, including ISKCON Swamibag Ashram, Joykali Temple, Ittefaq Intersection, Shapla Chattar, Dainik Bangla Intersection, near Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Paltan Intersection, Press Club, Kadam Foara, High Court Shrine, Doel Chattar, Shaheed Minar, Jagannath Hall, Palasi Intersection, and finally reach the Dhakeshwari Temple.

The return journey will take place on Saturday, July 5, at the same time, and the chariot will come back to Swamibag Temple using the same route in reverse.

The Dhaka Traffic Police has asked people to avoid these roads from 2 PM to 6 PM on both June 27 and July 5.

Police have assured that enough security arrangements have been made to ensure the Rath Yatra procession takes place smoothly and safely.

Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have grown since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power last year. The new leader, Muhammad Yunus, has made several remarks against India, which led to strong responses from New Delhi.

During this period, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent religious figure, was arrested in Bangladesh. A case was filed against him and 18 others at the Kotwali police station in Chattogram on October 30 last year, accusing them of showing disrespect to the national flag of Bangladesh.

His arrest led to widespread protests by his followers across Dhaka and other parts of the country. In Chattogram, the protest took a violent turn when Assistant Government Prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was killed in a knife attack, just hours after Das was sent to jail.

Later, on April 30, Chinmoy Krishna Das was granted bail.

Chinmoy Das has actively spoken out in support of major changes, such as introducing a law to protect minorities, setting up special courts to fast-track cases related to minority persecution, and forming a separate ministry to handle minority affairs.

Originally from Satkania Upazila in Chittagong, he became well known at a young age for his powerful religious speeches, earning the title ‘Shishu Bokta’ or ‘child speaker.’

From 2016 to 2022, Chinmoy Das worked as the divisional secretary for ISKCON in Chittagong, a branch of the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition. However, he was removed from the position in 2024.

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