Bangladesh court rejects bail plea of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das
What's the story
A Bangladesh court has rejected the bail plea of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who is facing sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the national flag.
The ruling was passed by Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam after a 30-minute hearing.
"Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam rejected the bail plea after hearing arguments from both sides for around 30 minutes," said Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan.
Arrest details
Das's arrest and subsequent reactions
Das is the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, an organization fighting for the rights and security of minorities in Bangladesh.
He has been vocal about reforms like a minority protection law and a tribunal to hear cases of minority persecution.
The sedition charges against Das are based on an incident on October 25, when a saffron flag was hoisted above Bangladesh's official flag during a rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.
Legal challenges
Lawyer defending Das faces threats
After this incident, he was arrested on October 30 along with 18 others. His arrest led to widespread outrage and demands for his release.
Rabindra Ghosh, the lawyer defending Das, has also been threatened for taking up the case. He feared false cases would be filed against him and his life threatened.
Ghosh was recently admitted to SSKM hospital in West Bengal after he complained of chest pain.
International appeal
Ghosh's appeal to India and letter to PM Modi
On Tuesday, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh met Rabindra in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
Kunal promised to take Rabindra's request to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to the appropriate level.
Rabindra has also written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the plight of minorities in Bangladesh, stressing that "the interim government in Bangladesh has no right to reject any policy decision taken by the previous democratically elected government."