DHAKA, Bangladesh — On Thursday, a court in southeastern Bangladesh denied a bail application from a detained Hindu leader, who organized extensive protests advocating for improved security for minority communities in the predominantly Muslim nation.
Krishna Das Prabhu, 39, is currently facing charges of sedition following significant demonstrations in the city of Chattogram. Hindu organizations claim there have been numerous attacks against their community since the secular government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in early August.
The hearing took place without Prabhu’s presence, with Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam ruling against the bail request, as reported by Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan. The court session was heavily secured, with a notable police and military presence.
“We presented our case by emphasizing the seriousness of the charges he faces, including sedition that concerns the security and integrity of our nation,” Bhuiyan explained in a phone interview. “Granting him bail could incite chaos, given that he has previously incited violence by rallying large crowds of supporters outside the court.”
In response to the court’s decision, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, Prabhu’s lawyer, announced plans to appeal the ruling. A previous bail request was dismissed when Prabhu was without legal representation, and lawyers trying to advocate for him at that time reported facing intimidation. Several legal representatives are reportedly under investigation for their involvement in the violent clashes that erupted outside the court, which led to the death of a Muslim lawyer shortly after Prabhu’s arrest in Dhaka last November.
For the latest hearing, a group of 11 lawyers traveled from Dhaka, escorted for security purposes. Hindu and various minority groups, both domestically and internationally, have called out the interim government helmed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus for failing to ensure their safety. Conversely, Yunus and his allies have dismissed claims of increased violence against Hindus and other minorities since August as overstated.
Prabhu’s detention occurred amid rising tensions sparked by incidents involving the disrespect of the Indian flag in Bangladesh, which saw some citizens burning it while others placed it on the ground for others to step over. This led to reciprocal protests in India.
Krishna Das Prabhu serves as a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, and he is also linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement. Radharamn Das, the group’s vice president, indicated to a news outlet that Prabhu’s health is declining while in custody. He remarked, “Prabhu has become a symbol of hope for minorities in Bangladesh and serves as their voice in these challenging times.”
