Thu Jan 02 07:33:47 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh Court Denies Bail to Former ISKCON Leader Amidst Ongoing Unrest
**Chattogram, Bangladesh (January 2, 2025)** – A Chattogram court today denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), following a heavily secured hearing. The decision, delivered by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Saiful Islam after a 30-minute hearing, comes amidst significant unrest in Bangladesh sparked by Das’s arrest.
Das was arrested on November 25th on sedition charges, stemming from an incident on October 25th where he allegedly raised a saffron flag above the Bangladeshi national flag in Chittagong. His arrest triggered protests that escalated into violent clashes between his followers and law enforcement on November 27th, resulting in the death of a lawyer. Further arrests following the violence exacerbated the situation.
Today’s bail hearing saw a strong legal presence, with 11 Supreme Court lawyers representing Das. Despite their efforts, the court upheld the denial of bail. The next steps in the legal process remain unclear. The ongoing unrest underscores the deep divisions within Bangladesh stemming from this controversial incident.
First Piper 