A Bangladeshi lawyer defending Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case was reportedly attacked at his home by alleged Islamist assailants, leaving him in critical condition. The lawyer, Advocate Ramen Roy, is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), according to ISKCON India.
The incident comes amidst escalating tensions in Bangladesh following the monk’s arrest on 25th November at Dhaka airport. He faces sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the national flag during a rally in October.
Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesperson for ISKCON India, condemned the attack in a tweet on Monday night. “Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only ‘fault’ was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life,” he wrote.
Speaking to a local Bengali news channel, Das described the attack as a “direct consequence” of Roy’s role in defending Chinmoy Das. He further remarked that the incident highlights the growing risks faced by those advocating for religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Chinmoy Das, an expelled ISKCON monk, was serving as the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanmilito Sanatani Jagoron Jot, an organisation advocating for Hindu rights. His arrest has sparked widespread protests in Dhaka and Chittagong, where clashes between his supporters and security forces have turned violent.
In Chittagong, a Muslim lawyer was killed during protests outside a court, prompting police to arrest 33 individuals in connection with the unrest.
The attack on Roy is the latest episode in a series of violent incidents targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, which comprises approximately 8% of the nation’s 170 million population. Over 200 attacks have been reported since anti-Hindu violence flared up earlier this year following a students’ agitation over a controversial quota system. The protests escalated into a broader anti-government movement, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
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