DHAKA, Jan 2: A court in Chattogram, Bangladesh, has rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the former ISKCON leader, following a hearing on Thursday. The decision, made by Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam, came after a 30-minute session during which both parties presented their arguments, according to Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan. The hearing was marked by heightened security due to the controversy surrounding the case.
Earlier in the day, a group of 11 Supreme Court lawyers arrived in Chattogram to participate in the bail hearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das. Lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee confirmed their involvement, stating, “We have come to Chattogram under the banner of Ainjibi Oikya Parishad, and we will move for Chinmoy in the court for his bail. I already got the Vakalatnama from Chinmoy.” Bhattacharjee, a member of both the Supreme Court and Chattogram Bar associations, emphasized that he did not require local lawyer authorization to represent Chinmoy.
The controversy surrounding Chinmoy Krishna Das began after he allegedly raised a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25, 2024. The incident led to sedition charges being filed against him. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on November 25, 2024, which sparked widespread protests. These protests resulted in violent clashes between his supporters and law enforcement outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, leading to the tragic death of a lawyer.
In the aftermath of the protests, there were additional arrests, including two monks—Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari—who were detained on November 29 after visiting Chinmoy Krishna Das in custody. ISKCON’s Vice President, Radha Raman, reported that rioters vandalized an ISKCON center in Bangladesh during the unrest.
The situation has raised concerns internationally, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India expressing concern over the growing violence and extremist rhetoric in Bangladesh. The MEA has been actively raising the issue of targeted attacks on minorities with the government in Dhaka, urging them to address the ongoing unrest.
