High-Stakes Court Hearing: Chattogram Decides on Bail Plea for Devoted Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das

In Bangladesh, the Chattogram court is scheduled to address the bail plea of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das today. During the last hearing on December 3, 2024, no lawyer represented him due to fears of threats and pressure from a “politically motivated lawyers group.” Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote and a former ISKCON priest, was arrested on November 25 at Dhaka Airport on sedition charges. He has been detained since November 26.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has publicly demanded his release, claiming the charges against Das and 18 others are baseless and amount to harassment. The tension follows the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, which led to increased violence against minorities. Chinmoy Krishna Das has been actively advocating for the rights and safety of the Hindu community, highlighting their concerns through eight-point demands.

Das’s arrest was precipitated by a rally on October 25 in Chattogram, where he was allegedly involved in hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag—a move considered seditious by authorities. Following his arrest, protests erupted across Bangladesh, with many demanding his immediate release. The Chattogram court, however, initially denied his bail plea.

The incident has drawn international attention. ISKCON Bangladesh condemned the arrest and the subsequent violence against Hindus, urging the Bangladeshi government to foster communal harmony. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also expressed concern, stressing the importance of protecting minority rights and upholding their freedom to assemble peacefully. Similarly, members of the UK Parliament voiced apprehensions about the situation, particularly the recent violence targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu minority.

This case underscores the delicate balance between political power shifts and minority rights in Bangladesh, raising critical questions about justice and freedom of expression in the region.

Original Source: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/bangladesh-chattogram-court-to-hear-bail-plea-of-hindu-monk-chinmoy-krishna-das/
Category : International
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Publish Date: 2025-01-02 08:32:00