Dhaka:
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a key leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammirit Sanathani Jagalan Jot, was detained on Monday. His arrest is linked to the murder of lawyer Saiful Islamic Arif, who was reportedly attacked on court premises on November 7th last year.
A request from the police led to Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Sm Alauddin permitting the arrest during a virtual session.
According to reports, the investigator submitted an application on Sunday indicating that Das had been arrested in connection with a fourth case. On Monday, the court acknowledged this arrest in relation to the Alif murder case after a virtual hearing.
On April 30, the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s Appeals Office upheld the High Court’s decision to grant bail to Das regarding agitation-related cases.
Judge Rezor Hak from the Appellate Division made this ruling following the High Court’s earlier decision to grant bail, which was reviewed after a state advisor’s appeal.
The stay order is active from the appeal until a motion for approval is filed and the complete verdict is published.
Previously, the High Court had granted Das bail after his arrest on November 25th of last year, stemming from accusations of disrespecting the national flag during a rally in Chittagong. His detainment drew significant global attention and outcry.
Das was taken into custody in Dhaka on November 25th and was sent to prison the following day after a bail request was denied in Chittagong. On December 11, 2024, the court once more turned down his bail request.
His arrest ignited large protests among the Hindu community in Bangladesh, which has been experiencing political unrest since August 2024, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted amid violent protests.
Over the following months, the nation experienced an increase in attacks on the Hindu population after the fall of the Hasina government and the establishment of a provisional government led by Muhammad Yunus.
India has expressed serious concerns about the treatment of Hindu minorities and has described their situation under the Yunus-led interim administration as “systematic persecution.”
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the safety of Bangladeshi minorities, including Hindus, during a meeting with Yunus at the Bimstek Summit in Bangkok.
Recently, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a notable figure in the Hindu community linked to the Bangladesh Puja Ujapan Committee, was tragically attacked at his home and died on April 18th due to injuries inflicted by four assailants.
