Krishna Das Prabhu, an outspoken Hindu leader advocating for the protection of minority groups in Bangladesh, faces sedition charges for leading rallies demanding better security for minority groups in Chattogram city.
According to Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan, Krishna Das Prabhu did not appear at the court hearing in the southeastern city of Chattogram.
The latest hearing took place after the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam had previously rejected his bail plea. Violence had erupted following the hearing in November, with Prabhu’s followers accused of killing a Muslim public prosecutor.
Hindu groups allege there have been hundreds of attacks on Hindus since August when the nearly 16-year government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown. Minorities see Krishna Das Prabhu’s leadership as a sign of hope.
India’s Hindu nationalist government continues to back Hasina, the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh who has been in exile in India since protesters stormed her palace on August 5.
Bangladesh in December requested India send Hasina back to face charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity.” India confirmed it had received the request but declined to comment further.
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