Bangladesh Court Denies Bail to Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das
A Bangladesh court rejected the bail plea of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on Thursday, prolonging his detention that began on November 25 last year. Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam issued the ruling after a 30-minute hearing in Chattogram, attended by 11 Supreme Court lawyers from Dhaka. Das, a prominent advocate for minority rights, was arrested on sedition charges related to an incident at a rally on October 25 in Chattogram, where a saffron flag was displayed above Bangladesh’s national flag.
The rejection of bail has drawn criticism from various quarters. Radha Raman Das, Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, expressed disappointment, stating, “The world was expecting Chinmoy Prabhu’s release with the new year, but his bail was rejected after 42 days.” He emphasized the monk’s deteriorating health and urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure justice for him. Chinmoy Das, a key figure in the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, has been a vocal proponent of a minority protection law, expedited tribunals for persecution cases, and a separate ministry for minority affairs.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5 last year, Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, comprising around 8% of the population, has faced intensified attacks across over 50 districts. Chinmoy Das has become a symbol of hope for the embattled community, but his continued detention underscores the challenges faced by minority advocates in the country.
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