“Disrespect for the national flag”: withdraw the case within 72 hours or we will face a harsh program

Leaders of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha in Chattogram yesterday issued a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw the sedition case filed against 19 Hindus on charges of disrespecting the national flag.

Among the accused is Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the organizing secretary of the Chattogram branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

They made this demand at a protest meeting near the Cheraghi Pahar intersection in the port city. Several hundred people from the Hindu community joined the program.

Addressing the rally, Swatantro Guranga Das Brahmachari, member of the management committee of ISKCON Proborttak Sri Krishna Mandir in Chattogram, termed the case false and baseless.

He said the case was filed only to harass Hindu community leaders.

“We will wait 72 hours to see if the government withdraws the case. If the case is not withdrawn by Monday, we will move to a more stringent program.”

Jewel Aich, coordinator of the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, said, “Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is the leader of 30 million people in this country and the people of the Sanatani community will not tolerate any persecution or conspiracy against him.”

Sanatan Jagaran Mancha leaders announced that protest rallies will be held in all cities of the district today. Moreover, demand letters will be handed over to the government leadership through Deputy Commissioners of 64 districts on Monday.

Firoz Khan, a resident of Mohora area, lodged a sedition complaint at the Kotwali police station yesterday morning.

According to the case file, the incident took place on October 25 when a group of youths reportedly hoisted a saffron flag on top of the Bangladesh flag on a pole at Zero Point near New Market junction during a rally organized by the Hindu community under the banner of the Sanatan Jagarana Mancha.

The rally, held at Lal Dighi, was to make eight-point demands, including the formation of a tribunal to prosecute oppression of minorities, enactment of a Minority Protection Act, creation of a ministry for minority affairs and a five-day Durga Puja festival.

Police detained two accused – Rajesh Chowdhury and Hriday Das – from Chattogram’s Sadarghat area on Wednesday evening, hours before filing a sedition case. The two were later shown to be arrested in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Puja Ujapan Parishad in a statement yesterday demanded withdrawal of the case.