Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Faces Legal Setback in Bangladesh as Advocate Attacked

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and former ISKCON priest, was denied relief on Tuesday when his bail hearing in Bangladesh was postponed due to the absence of legal representation. Das, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested last Monday at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in connection with a sedition case.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, also known as Sri Chinmay Krishna Prabhu within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community, is a prominent religious leader in Bangladesh. He had previously held the position of divisional organizing secretary for ISKCON in Chattogram.

In a disturbing turn of events, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das reported that Advocate Ramen Roy, who had defended Chinmoy Krishna Das in a legal case, was brutally attacked in Bangladesh. According to Das, Roy was assaulted by a group of Islamists, who also ransacked his home. Roy is currently in critical condition and is being treated in the ICU. The attack reportedly stemmed from Roy’s involvement in defending Das in court, leading to widespread condemnation. ISKCON spokesperson Radharamn Das called for prayers for the advocate, describing the attack as a violent response to his legal defense of the monk.

Meanwhile, India has expressed concern over an incident in Agartala, where protesters breached the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in response to Chinmoy Krishna Das's arrest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the incident "deeply regrettable" and emphasized that consular properties should be respected and protected under all circumstances. In light of the breach, the Indian government has increased security at Bangladesh's diplomatic missions in the country. The protest, which drew thousands, highlighted growing concerns over the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of the prominent religious leader.

The situation continues to evolve as legal and diplomatic tensions rise over the case, with both Indian and Bangladeshi authorities working to address the fallout from the arrest and subsequent violence.