Bangladesh court denies bail to Hindu monk Chinmoy Das

Dhaka: A Chattogram court on Tuesday again rejected the bail petition of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, former ISKCON leader and current spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagaran Jote, in connection with five separate cases, including one involving the murder of a lawyer. Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Bakar Siddik issued the order after a hearing, despite a plea from the defense citing the accused’s deteriorating health. “Chinmoy Krishna Das is implicated in multiple cases, including the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif and an attack on police. He is also facing a sedition case for allegedly desecrating the national flag. We sought bail in all the cases on medical grounds, but the court rejected them,” said Apurba Kumar Ghosh, the defense lawyer. Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury confirmed the prosecution's opposition to the bail petitions, adding that the cases are under Kotwali Police Station's jurisdiction. Chinmoy came under scrutiny following two major Sanatan community gatherings led by him in Chattogram on October 25 and in Rangpur on November 22 last year. On October 31, a sedition case was filed against him and 18 others, accusing them of disrespecting the national flag during the Chattogram event. He was arrested on November 25 in Dhaka in connection with the sedition case and was denied bail the following day. As the court ordered him to jail, violence broke out near the court premises between Chinmoy’s supporters and law enforcement personnel, resulting in the death of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. Following the murder, Alif’s father filed a case against Chinmoy and others with the Kotwali police. Authorities later showed Chinmoy arrested in the murder case and other related incidents. Despite his legal team's efforts to secure release on health grounds, the court has maintained its stance, citing the gravity of the charges. (PNC)