The Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON leader facing sedition charges, during a high-security hearing on January 2, 2025. The decision comes amid rising tensions following his arrest on November 25 for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong.
The arrest has incited widespread unrest, with violent clashes breaking out on November 27 between Das’s followers and law enforcement, tragically resulting in the death of a lawyer. Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan confirmed that the court deliberated for 30 minutes before rejecting the bail plea.
Efforts to secure bail were led by 11 Supreme Court lawyers under the Ainjibi Oikya Parishad banner. However, their arguments failed to sway the court. The sedition charges and subsequent events have further strained communal harmony, intensifying calls for justice and raising concerns about political and religious divides.
The unrest reflects broader fractures within Bangladesh, with observers noting the delicate balance between legal accountability and safeguarding democratic freedoms.
