No lawyer for arrested ISKCON priest Chinmoy Das's bail hearing in Bangladesh

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and former ISKCON priest, had his bail hearing postponed in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday due to the absence of a lawyer to represent him. The court has rescheduled the hearing for January 2, 2025. Das was arrested on November 27, 2024, at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport under a sedition case, which has raised concerns among various groups. He is a member of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, an organization advocating for the rights of Hindus in the country.

Das, also known as Sri Chinmay Krishna Prabhu within the ISKCON community, previously served as the divisional organizing secretary for ISKCON in Chattogram, Bangladesh. His involvement in public activities, particularly those criticizing the government and raising issues related to the treatment of Hindus, led to his arrest. The charges against him have sparked protests and increased tensions, especially among the Hindu community in Bangladesh and India.

During the first court hearing, no lawyer appeared on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Das, leading to the postponement of his bail application. The absence of legal representation prevented the court from proceeding with the case. The government’s lawyer opposed the bail request, citing the violent incidents that occurred during Das' first court appearance. At that time, his supporters reportedly clashed with security forces, which resulted in the death of a government lawyer. This incident led to heightened concerns about maintaining order during future court hearings.

In a separate incident related to the case, Advocate Ramen Roy, who had represented Chinmoy Krishna Das in a previous legal matter, was attacked in Bangladesh. The attack took place on November 29, 2024, when a group of Islamists allegedly assaulted Roy. Roy was severely injured and is currently in critical condition in an intensive care unit. In addition to the physical assault, reports indicate that Roy’s home was ransacked during the attack. ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das confirmed the attack, stating that Roy was targeted because of his legal defense of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has led to large-scale protests, particularly in India. In Agartala, a group of protesters breached the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission’s premises on December 1, 2024, demanding Das’ release and protesting the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh. The protesters reportedly caused damage to the consular property, leading the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to condemn the breach. The MEA emphasized the need to protect diplomatic properties and announced enhanced security measures at Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in India.

The case of Chinmoy Krishna Das has drawn attention to the broader issues of religious minority rights in Bangladesh, where the Hindu community has faced increasing violence and discrimination in recent years. Various human rights organizations have expressed concern about the situation, with some calling for international attention to address the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of the January 2 hearing will be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.