The mob-defying monk

• Chinmoy Krishna Das, leader of Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was accused of leading rallies against growing mob violence targeting minority religious communities in Bangladesh.

• The case was lodged on October 31, following three separate rallies where the national flag was reportedly disrespected.

• Das was arrested on October 25 and later in a court in Chittagong, where violent clashes broke out between hundreds of political activists and the police, leading to the death of a young lawyer.

• Despite the allegations, Das has been accused of encouraging the clashes on the court premises.

• Bangladesh has a history of anti-minority violence dating back to East Pakistan, with the Hindus and Buddhists of East Pakistan mobilizing themselves in the 1960s.

• Despite being in jail since October 2024, Das remains a crucial figure in post-Hasina Bangladesh where there is a spike in the activities of the fundamentalist Islamist movements.

• An appellate court in Dhaka will take up the case of Das on Sunday.

• Despite the promise of an investigation into Das’ activities and the rallies and violence of October 26, 2024, the interim government has not carried out any probe so far.