Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Jote, has been ordered to be shown arrested in four additional cases by a Chattogram court. On Tuesday morning, Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin issued the order following a hearing at the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.
According to Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Court, Md. Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, investigating officers filed petitions to show Chinmoy arrested in connection with four cases – three related to obstruction of police duty and clashes filed at the Kotwali police station on November 26 last year, and one filed by the family of the deceased lawyer Alif.
It is known that Chinmoy was not brought physically to the court during the hearing. In fact, no lawyer representing him appeared in court either. Considering the security concerns and the overall situation, Chinmoy was connected to the hearing virtually from prison.
Several lawyers who previously represented Chinmoy stated that they were attacked while defending him in court in the past, and their offices were vandalized. Due to ongoing security threats, they are currently unable to appear in court on his behalf. However, they mentioned that efforts to secure bail for Chinmoy are ongoing at the High Court.
Supreme Court lawyer Suman Kumar Roy, who is advocating for Chinmoy, said, “Chinmoy Prabhu is a victim of conspiracy. His only ‘fault’ was standing up for the eight moral demands of persecuted minority Hindus. His words carried no incitement. These demands are existential and essential for the Hindu community. They were not political, nor were they directed against anyone. Since Chinmoy is the leading figure behind this movement, a vested quarter is trying to sabotage the demands by targeting him with multiple cases.”
A leader from the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Jote stated, “Chinmoy did not incite anyone. When Hindus came together with their eight-point moral demands, cases were filed one after another to harass them. Every time we seek our rights, we end up becoming accused. We strongly condemn and protest this through our organization.”
It is notable that on November 25 last year, Chinmoy was detained by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Subsequently, he was shown arrested in a sedition case filed in Chattogram by expelled BNP leader Firoz Khan over an alleged “flag desecration” incident in the New Market area. His bail was denied by the court, and he was sent to prison.
On that day, Chinmoy’s followers protested outside the court by blocking a police van. Police responded with baton charges, turning the court area into a conflict zone. Later, lawyer Alif was found seriously injured near the Ronggom Convention Hall (formerly Ronggom Cinema Hall) opposite the court and was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead. Following this, Alif’s father and brother filed two cases, while CMP filed three more-bringing the total to five.