“Travesty Of Justice”: Ex Indian Envoy On Bail Denied To Hindu Priest In Bangladesh

New Delhi:
In a move that has garnered widespread criticism and concern, a Chattogram court in Bangladesh has denied bail to Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari for the third time, labeling the decision a “travesty of justice” by former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri. The case, which involves sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag during a rally on October 25, has raised significant concerns about judicial bias against Hindu minorities in the country.
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Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was denied bail by the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam on January 2, 2025. This decision follows a series of events that began with his arrest at Dhaka Airport on November 25, after which he was taken to Chattogram and had his initial bail denied.
The sedition charges against Das stem from allegations that he raised a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally in Chittagong on October 25. Despite the presence of a team of 11 Supreme Court lawyers defending him during the January 2 hearing, the court rejected his bail plea after a 30-minute deliberation.
Veena Sikri, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been vocal about her disappointment with the court’s decision, terming it a “travesty of justice.” She highlighted the lack of evidence supporting the sedition charges and criticized the legal proceedings for failing to provide Das with a state-appointed lawyer during earlier hearings. Sikri emphasized that under normal justice systems, the state is obligated to provide legal representation if the defendant does not have one, a principle that was not adhered to in this case.
Foreign Affairs expert Robinder Sachdeva has also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the Bangladeshi judiciary may be acting under governmental influence or biased assumptions against Hindu minorities. Sachdeva argued that the charges against Das are not severe and that he deserves bail, pointing out that the judiciary’s actions seem to align with an ideology that prioritizes Islam as the primary religion and culture in Bangladesh.
The denial of bail has not only sparked widespread criticism but also led to violent protests. The unrest resulted in the death of a lawyer and additional arrests, including two other ISKCON monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, who were detained after visiting Das in custody. The situation has further escalated with reports of vandalism against an ISKCON center in Bangladesh.
Chinmoy Krishna Das is a vocal advocate for the rights and security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, having called for key reforms such as a minority protection law and a dedicated ministry for minority affairs. His health, compromised by diabetes and respiratory problems, has added to the concerns of his supporters and critics of the judicial system.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed concern over the escalating violence and targeted attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, reiterating that it has consistently raised these issues with the Bangladeshi government.