Bangladesh Court Denies Bail Request for ISKCON Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das
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Dhaka, Jan 2 (NationPress) A court in Bangladesh on Thursday disapproved the bail application of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and representative for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who is also connected with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), as per local media reports during a hearing that was conducted under heightened security.
Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam denied the bail request after approximately 30 minutes of arguments from both parties, according to Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan who spoke to The Daily Star.
A total of 11 Supreme Court lawyers, headed by Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, represented the ISKCON priest in this prominent sedition case.
After the hearing, Chinmoy's attorney, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, announced their intention to petition the High Court for bail.
Having been arrested on November 25 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on sedition charges, Das remains incarcerated amid escalating demands for justice.
The accusations against Das and 18 others pertain to the display of a saffron flag above the national flag during a protest rally on October 25 at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.
The bail petition, backed by 20 advocates from Dhaka and Chittagong, underscores claims of a false and fabricated case. The advocates argue that Das, who is afflicted with health issues including diabetes and respiratory conditions, is facing unjust detention. His lead attorney, Ravindra Ghosh, had previously been prevented from filing an anticipatory bail petition.
On December 11, a Bangladesh court turned down Das' initial bail petition, attributing the decision to procedural errors. Reports suggest that the lack of a valid power of attorney and adequate legal representation contributed to this rejection.
The situation further complicated when Subhashish Sharma, one of Das' legal representatives, was unable to attend a hearing on December 3 due to security issues.
Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan noted that the absence of necessary documentation and legal representation impeded the earlier proceedings.
In the meantime, India has urged for a fair and transparent trial, stressing the importance of upholding the legal rights of all parties involved.
Supporters and advocates express optimism that the court will take into account the monk’s deteriorating health and the procedural irregularities that have affected the case thus far.
