Renowned spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das was recently arrested on sedition charges. After this, the court refused to grant him bail, after which massive protests started in many places including the capital Dhaka and Chittagong.
After the arrest of Chinmay Krishna Das, a Hindu spiritual leader associated with the ISKCON temple, it has become a topic of discussion not only in Bangladesh but in many countries including India and there are demands for his release. India expressed deep concern over the arrest, while Bangladesh described it as disappointing.
Chandan Kumar Dhar Prakash Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, popularly known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is currently the spokesperson of Sanatan Jagran Manch and is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Chinmay Das, who runs the ISKCON religious place named Pundrik Dham in Chittagong, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday afternoon.
Renowned spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das was recently arrested on sedition charges. A court then refused to grant him bail, leading to massive protests in many places including the capital Dhaka and Chittagong. Chinmoy was a member of ISKCON but was recently expelled.
What is the allegation against Chinmay Das?
The next day, Tuesday, a Chittagong court ordered his arrest, leading to massive protests outside the court. In the case registered by Mohammad Firoz Khan at Kotwali police station in Chittagong, Chinmoy Krishna Das and 18 others are accused of hoisting the saffron flag above the national flag of Bangladesh during a rally on October 25.
The rally was org.zed by the Hindu community under the banner of “Sanatan Jagran Manch” at New Market Square in Chittagong. The case also alleged that the act was “unholy” and amounted to “contempt of the sovereignty of the country”, calling it “a seditious activity aimed at destabilizing the country by promoting an anarchic environment”.
A picture of these flags has gone viral on social media, which is being discussed continuously in Bangladesh. A large number of Bangladeshi people are also criticizing it.
What does the law say there?
Let us know what the law of Bangladesh says in the case where Chinmoy Krishna has been arrested and has not even been granted bail. According to the Bangladesh Flag Rules, 1972, no other flag can be flown above the national flag in the country.
As amended in 2010, non-compliance with the law is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to 5,000 taka (Bangladeshi taka), or both. In the same case, Section 124 (A) of the Penal Code was also cited, which defines sedition as any act which creates an atmosphere of contempt or hatred against the government established by law.
Provision for life imprisonment also
According to this section, “Whoever, by words spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, excites hatred or contempt, or attempts to excite hatred or disaffection towards the Government established by law, shall be punished. Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for any shorter term to which fine may also be added, or imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years with fine.
