The bail hearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmmachari, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote, is expected to be held today in the High Court. Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly insulting the national flag of Bangladesh, a claim he and his supporters vehemently deny.
On January 2, a lower court in Chittagong denied his bail application. In response, Chinmoy’s lawyer, Apurba Kumar Bhattachariya, filed for bail at the High Court on January 12. Bhattachariya confirmed that the application would be presented for a hearing today.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on November 25 at Dhaka airport, has been embroiled in legal battles over the charges since his arrest. During the January 2 hearing, a lawyer representing Chinmoy Krishna Das argued that the priest holds deep respect for Bangladesh and its flag, emphasizing that he views the nation as his motherland and is not a traitor.
The Chittagong court rejected the bail request following a tense hearing, which was held under heavy security. Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam, after hearing both sides, ruled against granting bail. The prosecution, represented by Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan, did not comment on the specifics of the sedition charge.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON leader, has been a vocal advocate for the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh. According to his lawyer, Das frequently begins his speeches by asserting that “Mother and motherland are better than heaven.” The controversy surrounding the alleged desecration of the national flag stemmed from an incident where the flag in question was not the official flag of Bangladesh.
Bhattachariya further pointed out that a sedition charge could not be filed without the court’s permission, which was not sought in this case. The defense maintains that the charges are baseless and politically motivated.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India had expressed deep concern over Das’s arrest and the subsequent denial of bail, stating that the incident reflects the growing hostility towards Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. The MEA statement condemned the ongoing attacks on Hindus and other minorities, which have included arson, theft, and desecration of temples and deities. It criticized the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was peacefully advocating for minority rights, while the perpetrators of attacks on minority communities remain at large.
The MEA urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus and all religious minorities, as well as their fundamental right to peaceful assembly and expression.
(Inputs from ANI)
