DHAKA, Bangladesh — A court in southeastern Bangladesh has postponed the bail hearing for a notable Hindu leader by one month. The decision comes in the wake of escalating tensions in the country, particularly after reports surfaced regarding the Indian flag being desecrated, with some instances involving burning or trampling on it.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated recently, especially after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India amid widespread protests that resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries. Consequently, India has restricted visa issuance for Bangladeshi citizens, allowing them only for urgent medical purposes.
Krishna Das Prabhu was detained in Dhaka last week, with the court mandating his detention until the bail proceedings. He is facing sedition charges due to his leadership in large-scale rallies in Chattogram, advocating for safer conditions for Hindu communities that report experiencing numerous attacks. His imprisonment has incited violent demonstrations among his supporters, leading to a series of confrontations with local law enforcement. Tragically, a Muslim attorney was murdered near the court in Chattogram shortly after news of Prabhu’s arrest broke. This situation has raised alarms in neighboring India, a predominantly Hindu nation, as well as among the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
On Tuesday, Prabhu, also recognized as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was absent from the court session. Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan informed that Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge Saiful Islam has scheduled the next hearing for January 2, following a request from the prosecution for additional time to review the case. Notably, there was no defense attorney present on Prabhu’s behalf during the proceedings.
Simultaneously, planned anti-India protests took place in Dhaka due to actions by a group of Hindus in India’s northeastern state of Tripura, who reportedly attacked a Bangladeshi consulate following Prabhu’s arrest. The violence prompted a statement of regret from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, while Bangladesh vehemently condemned the incident.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, which represents the country’s minority groups, released a statement condemning Prabhu’s arrest and calling for his immediate release. As a well-known Hindu leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, Prabhu also has connections to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement.
Hindu community members and representatives of other minority groups have reported a rise in violence since the removal of former Prime Minister Hasina, whose administration was flagged by critics for becoming increasingly autocratic. In contrast, Yunus and his advisors argue that concerns over threats to Hindus have been exaggerated.
With Muslims constituting approximately 91% of Bangladesh’s population, Hindus make up nearly the remainder. The ongoing political and social unrest in Bangladesh follows Hasina’s exit, which ended her 15-year tenure. The government led by Yunus is grappling with maintaining order amid issues including mob justice, street protests, ineffective police operations, and political instability. Yunus has consistently urged citizens to maintain composure during these turbulent times.