In Bangladesh, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court has rejected three petitions filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Rabindra Ghosh on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari. The spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested on sedition charges on November 25, from Dhaka Airport.
The petitions sought an expedited hearing date for Chinmoy’s bail plea, the submission of case documents, and other related reliefs. However, the court dismissed them, citing the absence of a power of attorney (vakalatnama) from any member of the Chattogram Bar Association, according to Assistant Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Md. Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, according to the media reports.
However, advocate Rabindra Ghose said that there is an option of impunity for senior lawyers. “There is a High Court direction to allow senior lawyers to hear cases in absence of filing lawyers. The court could have accepted the petitions as I am a senior Supreme Court lawyer aging 75,” the Business Standard (TBS), a leading local newspaper quotes Advocate Ghose.
“The lawyer defending Chinmoy has been framed in a case. Another lawyer’s chamber has been vandalized. Out of fear they are not in a position to appear in the court”, Rabindar Ghose alleged.
He also alleged that a group of lawyers harassed him and assaulted outside the court. “I have been bullied and attacked by about 40 people wearing black coats. I doubt they are not lawyers, they are rather outsiders who harassed me for defending Chinmoy in the court”, TBS quotes Advocate Ghose.
The hearing, which began at 11:00am, witnessed a tense moment when Rabindra Ghosh referred to a deceased Chattogram Bar lawyer as merely “deceased” instead of “martyr.” This triggered protests from other lawyers present in the courtroom, causing a brief commotion, reports TBS.
India has expressed hope that the trial will be ‘fair and transparent’ as the arrested Hindus have legal rights which should be respected. New Delhi has repeatedly appealed to officials of the interim government in Dhaka to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month, “The interim government must fulfill its responsibility to protect all minorities. We are concerned about the increasing incidents of extremist rhetoric, violence and incitement. These developments cannot be dismissed as mere media exaggeration. We once again call on Bangladesh to take all steps to protect minorities.”
During his visit to Dhaka on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had conveyed to Dhaka the concerns related to the security and welfare of minorities during his meetings with Bangladesh’s interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain.