ABangladesh court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who is also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Das was arrested and jailed by local authorities on charges of sedition.
According to local media reports, Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Saiful Islam, who is currently on vacation, denied the bail plea, citing that Das’s legal team failed to submit a lawyer’s letter of attorney on his behalf. The petition will now be heard on January 2 next year.
The petition states that Das, a monk suffering from various ailments, including diabetes and respiratory problems, has been arrested in what it describes as a false and fabricated case. It also mentions that his lawyer, Subhashish Sharma, was unable to attend the December 3 hearing due to security concerns.
Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan informed the court that lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, who had applied for Chinmoy Krishna Das’s anticipatory bail hearing, did not provide any power of attorney to represent him. Additionally, Subhashish Sharma was absent and had not authorized Ghosh to handle the case in writing. As a result, the court rejected the application submitted by Rabindra Ghosh, Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali daily, reported.
The bail hearing for two other accused in the case was also scheduled for Wednesday but could not proceed due to the absence of legal representation.
India has expressed concerns over the situation, reiterating its expectation of a “fair and transparent” trial. New Delhi emphasized that the arrested Hindus, including Das, must have their legal rights respected. The Indian government has also urged the interim authorities in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and free expression.
“The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned about the surge in extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence, and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all necessary steps to protect minorities,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month.
On Monday, during his visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed India’s concerns, particularly regarding the safety and welfare of minorities. He raised these issues in meetings with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, and the Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain.
“We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect a constructive approach from the Bangladesh authorities on these matters and look forward to strengthening the relationship in a positive and forward-looking direction,” Misri told reporters in Dhaka on December 9 following his discussions with Hossain.
