Bangladesh: Chittagong Court Refuses Early Bail Hearing For Arrested Hindu Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, Lawyer Mulls Moving High Court

A court in Bangladesh's Chittagong on Thursday (12 December) recorded a petition filed by senior Supreme Court lawyer Rabindra Ghosh seeking early bail for Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das.

However, the judge declined to advance the hearing date, maintaining the scheduled date of 2 January.

Rabindra Ghosh, a human rights activist, submitted the petition on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaron Jote and a former ISKCON priest.

Chinmoy was arrested on 25 November at Dhaka Airport on charges of sedition.

Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of the Chittagong Bar Association, explained the court's decision.

"Advocate Ghosh used the authorised power with the signature of Chinmoy Krishna Das based on Supreme Court Bar documentation. But the judge asked for confirmation from the Chittagong Bar," Chowdhury told news agency ANI.

As Ghosh could not provide Chittagong Bar documents, the judge kept the application on record without advancing the hearing.

"The judge maintained the scheduled hearing date of 2 January," Chowdhury added.

Expressing disappointment, Ghosh criticised the court’s decision.

"I am very disheartened. I have been coming from Dhaka for the last three days and applying with repeated attempts. The judge took my application on his table. He could have heard it. It fell into some conspiracy," Ghosh told ANI.

He also indicated plans to move the bail plea to the High Court.

On 3 December, the court set 2 January as the bail hearing date after the prosecution requested additional time and no lawyer was available to represent Chinmoy.

Earlier, on 26 November, the Chittagong court had rejected Chinmoy’s initial bail plea and ordered him to be sent to prison.

The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings have sparked unrest among Chinmoy’s followers.

Following his detention, supporters blocked his prison van, leading to clashes with police.

A lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, was killed during the altercation.

Also Read: Supreme Court Halts Trial Proceedings Or Surveys On Religious Structures Until Decision On Places of Worship Act