Ramakrishna Mission gets IS threat; Mamata, Modi worried

The external affairs minister has spoken to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka who took up the matter with the Bangladesh government.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has spoken to Sheikh Hasina on this matter and voiced her concern. A letter threatening the monks of the Order was mailed on Thursday evening. The monks immediately got in touch with the administration and the security around Mission was intensified.

Swami Suvirananda, assistant secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Mission said that the security around the Dhaka centre had been stepped up and hoped that Bangladesh government would do the needful.

The Math centre began its work in 1899 and came under Belur math in 1914 and the Mission centre was started in 1916, a century ago. Swami Vivekananda had sent two of his disciples, Swami Virajananda and Prakashananda to Dhaka in 1899 and they gave lectures and discourses. He went to Dhaka in 1901 and delivered lectures at Jagannath College and Pogose School.

The activity of Mission took a new turn when Nawab Khwaja Salimulah Bahadur helped by providing house free of rent and also with a monthly donation. This was utilized to set up an indoor hospital and was inaugurated by Lord Carmichael in 1916. The Dhaka centre is a shining example of communal harmony. Along with the Hindu festivals, Nabi day, Buddha jayanti and Christmas are also observed with great fervour. During Dura Puja, members of all communities visit the centre. Sheikh Hasina has visited the Centre several times.  PM Narendra Modi during his Bangladesh visit too, had come calling.