Bangladesh Court Rejects Plea for Early Bail Hearing of Hindu Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das

Dhaka [Bangladesh], December 12: A Bangladesh court has rejected a petition to expedite the bail hearing for arrested Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, citing procedural issues.

The court dismissed the plea, noting that the attorney filing the petition on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Das lacked the necessary authorization. Das is the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaron Jote.

Rabindra Ghosh, a senior lawyer from the Bangladesh Supreme Court and a human rights activist, submitted the petition at a Chittagong court. Ghosh reported a chaotic scene during the filing, claiming he faced verbal abuse and threats from a group of about 30 lawyers in the courtroom.

“They accused me of being an ISKCON agent and a murderer, simply because I came to represent Chinmoy,” Ghosh told ANI. “The judge intervened, and police ensured my safety,” he added.

Ghosh explained that Chinmoy’s lawyer could not represent him earlier because the lawyer himself faced charges linked to a murder case. “After the court rejected my plea, I visited the jail to obtain proper authorization from Chinmoy Krishna Das. I plan to resubmit the application on Thursday,” Ghosh said.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON priest, was arrested on November 25 at Dhaka Airport on sedition charges. His initial bail request was denied the following day by a Chittagong court, which sent him to prison.

The arrest has sparked significant unrest among Chinmoy’s supporters. On November 26, his followers protested by blocking his prison van, leading to clashes with police. One lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, was killed during the altercation.

Earlier this month, the Chittagong court scheduled Chinmoy’s bail hearing for January 2, citing the absence of legal representation at the time.