Bangladesh: Court may hear Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das' bail petition today
A Bangladeshi court is likely to hear the bail petition of arrested Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in connection with a sedition case filed over disrespecting the national flag.
Das was a former ISKCON leader.
His arrest massive protests by the minority Hindu community in the South Asian nation which witnessed a political turmoil ever since former PM Sheikh Hasina escaped to India amid widespread violent protests against her government.
"We will mention the bail petition of Chinmoy Krishna Das to the High Court bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza for its hearing at the first half on Monday. If the court allows us to move the petition, then we will argue for his bail," Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, the principal lawyer for Chinmoy, told The Daily Star.
He said he submitted the bail petition on behalf of Das on January 12.
The petition has been included as item No 306 in yesterday's cause list of the HC bench for its hearing. But the petition was not heard yesterday as it was towards the bottom of the list, Apurba said.
Das was arrested at Dhaka airport on November 25.
Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam denied bail to Chinmoy, also spokesperson for Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, in the case on January 2 this year, reported The Daily Star.
His bail petition was rejected by the same court on December 11.
India had earlier expressed deep concern over the arrest of the Hindu leader.
Bangladesh has witnessed rising cases of attacks on Hindus ever since Hasina-led government toppled the Muslim-majority nation.