Court denies bail to Hindu leader on sedition charges in Bangladesh

Court in the southeast Bangladesh again denied bail for Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu, who was charged with sedition after he led large rallies demanding better protection for minority groups in the Muslim country.

The court’s decision came on Thursday as security around the court was beefed up as police and military personnel guarded the court.

Why is this important?

Prabhu’s case highlights the tension between the Hindu minority and the secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It also sheds light on the problems facing minorities in Bangladesh, where Hindu communities have reported thousands of attacks since early August.

The government has yet to effectively address these issues, which have led to further unrest.

What you need to know

Krishna Das Prabhu, 39, was arrested after holding rallies in the southeastern city of Chattogram, where Hindu groups expressed fears of escalating violence against their community. Prabhu’s lawyers say he has been unfairly targeted, but the court rejected his bail plea citing serious charges of sedition and endangering national security.

Protests and judicial tension

Prabhu’s first bail application was denied because he had no legal representation and the lawyers who tried to represent him alleged intimidation. Tensions escalated outside the court, where clashes resulted in the death of a Muslim lawyer. At Thursday’s hearing, 11 lawyers came from Dhaka, accompanied by security, to represent Prabhu.

Security issues and international criticism

Hindu and minority groups in Bangladesh and abroad condemned the actions of the interim government led by the Nobel laureate Muhammed Yunusfor undermining the security of minorities. These groups say reports of violence against Hindus since August have been downplayed or ignored by the government. In response, Yunus and his supporters said the reports were exaggerated.

Prabhu, a prominent spokesman for the Bangladeshi group Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, is closely associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna movement. His arrest and subsequent treatment turned him into a symbolic figure for minority rights Bangladesh.

What people say

Radharam Das, Vice President and Spokesperson of Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jothe Bangladesh Group, said: “(Prabhu) has become the face of minorities in Bangladesh. Minorities see him as a ray of hope. He represents their voice.”

Mofizul Haque Bhuyan, public prosecutor, said of Prabhu: “He faces serious charges such as sedition and others affecting the security and sovereignty of our country. We argued in court that if he gets bail, it could create anarchy. As we have seen in the past, he caused violence in the court premises by calling thousands of his supporters to protest.”

What will happen next

As Krishna Das Prabhu remains in custody, his legal team plans to appeal the court’s decision. The case continues to draw attention from both national and international minority rights advocates, and pressure is mounting on the Bangladeshi government to address the concerns of the Hindu population.

This article incorporates reporting from The Associated Press