Dhaka, Jan 2 (NationPress) A court in Bangladesh on Thursday denied the bail request of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who is also linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). This decision came during a hearing that took place under heightened security, as reported by local media.
The Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Md Saiful Islam, dismissed the bail application after approximately 30 minutes of arguments from both parties, as stated by Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan in an interview with The Daily Star.
A team of 11 Supreme Court attorneys, led by Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, represented the ISKCON monk in this high-profile sedition case.
Following the proceedings, Chinmoy's attorney, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, indicated plans to appeal to the High Court for bail.
Chinmoy Krishna Das was apprehended on November 25 at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on charges of sedition. He has been in custody as demands for justice have intensified.
The charges against Das and 18 others stem from an incident where a saffron flag was raised over the national flag during a protest rally on October 25 at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.
The bail request, supported by 20 attorneys from Dhaka and Chittagong, claims that the case is false and fabricated. The legal representatives argue that Das, who suffers from health issues like diabetes and respiratory conditions, is being wrongfully detained. His lead attorney, Ravindra Ghosh, was previously not allowed to submit an anticipatory bail petition.
On December 11, a court in Bangladesh also turned down Das' first bail application due to procedural errors. Reports suggest that the lack of a valid power of attorney and adequate legal representation contributed to this denial.
The case faced further complications when lawyer Subhashish Sharma missed a hearing on December 3 because of security concerns.
Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan noted that the absence of necessary documentation and legal representation had impeded prior proceedings.
Meanwhile, India has urged for a just and transparent trial, stressing the importance of upholding the legal rights of all parties involved.
Supporters and advocates remain optimistic that the court will take into account the monk's declining health and the procedural discrepancies that have affected the case thus far.
