On Thursday, the bail plea of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON member, was rejected by a Chittagong court. The monk is accused in a sedition case linked to allegations of disrespecting Bangladesh ‘s national flag. His arrest has triggered widespread condemnation, with supporters alleging he is being unfairly targeted for speaking against the rising attacks on Hindus in the country.
The hearing saw a team of 11 lawyers, led by Supreme Court advocate Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, representing Chinmoy Krishna Das. Bhattacharjee said that he had secured the necessary legal authorizations to defend the monk, dismissing procedural objections raised earlier. Despite their efforts, the court refused bail, prolonging Das’s time in custody.
Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on November 25 at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Since then, he has been held in custody, with mounting calls for his release. Supporters claim he is being falsely implicated in a fabricated sedition case, with the sole purpose of silencing his voice against atrocities on Hindus. The monk’s bail plea has gained significant attention, with a team of 20 lawyers from Dhaka and Chittagong filing the petition.
Das’s primary advocate, Ravindra Ghosh, had earlier been prevented from filing an anticipatory bail plea, further complicating the case. Advocates representing Das argue that his health is deteriorating due to his detention. The 63-year-old monk is reportedly suffering from diabetes and respiratory issues, which they claim are being aggravated in jail. This has raised concerns among his followers and human rights organizations about the well-being of the religious leader.
The legal proceedings have also faced several hurdles. On December 11, Das’s initial bail plea was rejected by a Bangladesh court due to procedural lapses. The absence of a valid power of attorney and lawyer representation at that hearing was cited as the reason for the rejection. Adding to the challenges, one of his lawyers, Subhashish Sharma, skipped a December 3 hearing, citing security concerns. This further delayed the case, leaving Das in jail.
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