Chinmoy's bail hearing rescheduled to 2 January
As no lawyer appeared on behalf of Chinmoy, the court set 2 January as the next date of hearing
The bail hearing of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, has been rescheduled for 2 January next year.
The hearing of his bail plea was scheduled at the court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Saiful Islam in Chattogram today (3 December).
"As the prosecution submitted a time petition and there was no lawyer to represent Chinmoy, the court set 2 January as the next date for hearing the bail petition," said Advocate Nazim Uddin, president of Chattogram Bar Association.
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Sawtantra Gauranga Das Brahmachari, a leader of Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, told The Business Standard that lawyer Subhashi Sharma, who submitted an affidavit on behalf of Chinmoy, remained unreachable for the last few days.
"He, along with his assistants, approximately 70 lawyers, have been falsely accused in a case and they all have been in hiding to avoid arrest," he claimed.
"Fearing threats and pressure from a politically motivated lawyers' group, no lawyer is daring to represent Chinmoy," Sawtantra alleged.
Protests, killing of lawyer
On 25 October, Chinmoy, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, was accused in a sedition case for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag by hoisting a saffron flag above it during a rally organised by the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha in Chattogram city.
The former spokesperson of Iskcon Bangladesh was arrested by police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 25 November.
Since his arrest, his followers have protested in Dhaka, Chattogram and other parts of the country.
On 26 November, a Chattogram court rejected Chinmoy's bail plea and sent him to jail. A large group of people believed to be his supporters blocked the prison van carrying him for about two and a half hours.
Later, the police dispersed the protesters by throwing sound grenades and took Chinmoy to jail.
Amid the turmoil, violence spilled into Rangam Convention Hall Lane, opposite the court building. Advocate Saiful Islam Alif was fatally attacked by a mob that beat and hacked him to death.
The killing of Saiful led to many demanding the ban of Iskcon, which has distanced itself from Chinmoy.
Attack on Bangladesh High Commission in India
Meanwhile, Iskcon and Chinmoy's followers in India also got involved, demonstrating at the Bangladesh-India border and demanding his release.
The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Tripura capital's Agartala was attacked yesterday noon (2 December) as thousands of people took out a massive rally to protest Chinmoy's arrest, demand his immediate release, and "the stoppage of attacks on Hindus" in Bangladesh.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission is "deeply regrettable".
Later in the afternoon, the Bangladesh government expressed deep resentment over the violent demonstration and "heinous attack" by members of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity on the premises of the Assistant High Commission in Agartala.
Meanwhile, demonstrations condemning the attack on the Assistant High Commission continued till late at night, with students holding rallies at Dhaka University's TSC, in front of the Indian High Commission in the capital, and elsewhere around the country.
