Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk who is facing sedition charges in Bangladesh, will have to wait until January 2 for his next bail hearing. A Chattogram court agreed to the prosecution's request to postpone the hearing, citing the absence of a defense lawyer for the accused monk.

The delay has only added fuel to an already contentious legal battle involving Chinmoy Krishna, who is also a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote. The group claims that nearly 70 Hindu lawyers were "falsely sued" to block their participation in his defense.

Why is there no defense lawyer for Chinmoy Krishna?

The judicial process surrounding Chinmoy Krishna has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from ISKCON representatives. Radharamn Das, vice-president of ISKCON Kolkata, expressed outrage over alleged attacks on lawyers willing to represent the monk. He pointed to the reported assault on advocate Regan Acharya on the day of the monk's arrest, questioning how any lawyer could appear under such circumstances.

“How can any lawyer appear for #ChinmoyKrishnaDas when they are being targeted?” Das wrote on X.

This delay follows an earlier rejection of Chinmoy Krishna’s bail plea on November 26 by Judge Kazi Shariful Islam, after which violent clashes broke out resulting in the murder of the lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.

West Bengal CM calls for UN intervention

In India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a peacekeeping force from the United Nations in Bangladesh to protect minorities. ISKCON Kolkata has supported the call of Banerjee.

We are thankful to CM Mamata Banerjee for speaking up on the issue and highlighting the need for global intervention,” said Radharamn Das.

He also expressed his concern about attacks on Hindu lawyers as he posted a picture of advocate Ramen Roy, who reportedly is in critical condition after injury in court while defending Chinmoy Krishna.

Concerns over minority rights

The case has brought international attention to the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Radharamn Das criticized the state of democracy in the country, claiming that “basic human rights of minorities are being compromised.”

The delays in Chinmoy Krishna's case, coupled with reports of violence against legal professionals, have brought to the fore the issues of minority communities and their advocates. The coming months will tell whether international intervention can address these growing concerns.