Bangladesh: After Lawyer Attacked, Bail Hearing For Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Postponed To Next Month As Nobody Represents Him

The bail hearing for Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, scheduled for Tuesday (3 December) at a court in Chattogram, Bangladesh, has been postponed until 2 January due to the absence of a lawyer to represent him. The delay comes amid growing concerns for the safety of his legal team.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has claimed that the advocate representing Chinmoy Krishna Das, Ramen Roy, is in critical condition after being attacked for defending the monk. According to ISKCON, Roy was assaulted in his home in Chattogram on the night of Monday.

“Roy’s only ‘fault’ is that he is defending Chinmoy Krishna Das. His home was ransacked, and he was severely beaten. He defended Das when he was first produced in court on November 26. He is still in the ICU, fighting for his life,” Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesperson of ISKCON Kolkata, told The Indian Express.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent figure in organising rallies advocating for the security of Hindus in Bangladesh, was arrested on 25 November at Dhaka airport while traveling to Chattogram.

The charges against him stem from a sedition case filed in October after he led a rally in Chattogram, where he was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag. He was denied bail and sent to jail following a court hearing on 26 November.

ISKCON further alleged that Ramen Roy was not the only lawyer targeted for representing Das. “Not only Ramen Roy, but lawyers who represented him earlier were also attacked and faced legal consequences. In this atmosphere of fear, we do not know which lawyer will risk his life to defend him,” Radharamn Das added.

In a statement shared on his ‘X’ handle, Radharamn Das called for prayers for Roy’s recovery, sharing an image of the advocate in a hospital bed. “Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy… Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him,” he wrote.

The situation has sparked protests in various parts of West Bengal, where locals have voiced concerns about the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and the alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. The Indian government has urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure a fair and transparent trial for the Hindu monk.

ISKCON has also raised concerns about the detention of two other monks, including Das’s assistant, and claimed that 63 monks with valid visas were stopped at the Bangladesh border and not allowed to enter India.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, associated with the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and ISKCON, has been actively organising rallies in Bangladesh to condemn the alleged mistreatment of minorities in the country. The Bangladesh government has yet to comment on the allegations made by ISKCON regarding the attacks and arrests.