Spiritual leader Chinmoy Das expected to remain in jail as Bangladesh court sets next date as January 2
Hindu spiritual guru Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was detained on suspicion of sedition, had no respite. A Bangladeshi court scheduled the case’s next hearing for January 2, 2025, on Tuesday. It is anticipated that Chinmoy Das, who is now under arrest, would stay behind bars.
According to the Daily Star Bangladesh, the Chattogram court postponed the hearing on Chinmoy Krishna Das’ bail appeal till January 2. Due to the absence of the defense attorney, Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge Saiful Islam rescheduled the hearing.
Mofizur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, subsequently verified this information to Bangladeshi media.
Prior to the hearing, police increased security on the court grounds. At other locations across the court area, more police patrols were seen. Additionally, a number of attorneys were seen bringing out a procession. However, according to the Daily Star, the accused was not seen in court.
On November 25, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a member of the Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was taken into custody in Dhaka. The arrest came after a local legislator filed a complaint on October 31 alleging that Chinmoy Das and others had disrespected Bangladesh’s national flag during a Hindu community event.
Das’ detention and the refusal of his release have drawn harsh criticism from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Many people are incensed by the detention and are demanding that he be released right now.
ISKCON has previously shown support for Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was detained on sedition charges for reportedly hoisting a banner on a stand that had the national flag of Bangladesh. ISKCON, Inc. said on X:
“ISKCON, Inc. supports Chinmoy Krishna Das. For the safety of all these devotees, we offer our prayers to Lord Krishna.
ISKCON has also said that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das and two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, have been taken into custody by Bangladeshi police.
In a previous worrying development, a lawyer submitted a petition requesting for ISKCON to be banned in Bangladesh, describing the group as a “radical organization” that engages in activities intended to incite communal conflict, according to the local media.
According to the case filed in Bangladesh, ISKCON has been encouraging religious gatherings with the aim of provoking sectarian conflict, forcing its views on traditional Hindu groups, and enlisting members from lower castes of Hindus.
