A Bangladesh court has denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who is affiliated with ISKCON and faces sedition charges. The Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Md. Saiful Islam, cited the absence of a lawyer’s letter of attorney as the reason for rejecting the plea during his vacation on Wednesday.
The bail petition, now set to be heard on January 2, describes Das as a diabetic monk with respiratory issues, claiming his arrest is based on false accusations. Das’s lawyer, Subhashish Sharma, was unable to attend the December 3 hearing due to security concerns.
Public Prosecutor PP Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan noted, “The state party informed the court that lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, who applied for Chinmoy’s anticipatory bail, had not been authorized to represent him. Additionally, Subhashish Sharma neither attended the hearing nor authorized Rabindra Ghosh in writing. The court, therefore, rejected the application.”
Two co-accused also missed their bail hearings due to their lawyer’s absence.
India has reiterated its hope for a “fair and transparent” trial, emphasizing the legal rights of minorities. New Delhi has urged Dhaka to safeguard Hindus and other minority groups amid a rise in extremist rhetoric and violence.
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“The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “We are concerned about increasing violence and provocation and urge Bangladesh to take necessary steps for minority protection.”
During a recent visit to Dhaka, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri raised concerns with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain. “We expect a constructive approach from Bangladesh authorities to ensure safety and advance bilateral relations positively,” Misri stated.
