Kolkata: Rabindra Ghosh, a prominent Bangladeshi lawyer defending jailed Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, is currently in Barrackpore near Kolkata for medical treatment, his son said on Monday. Ghosh, accompanied by his wife, arrived in India on Sunday evening and is staying with his son Rahul Ghosh, who has been residing in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal for several years.
"My father arrived with my mother last evening and is currently living with us. He met with an accident three years ago, and for treatment, he frequently visits India," Rahul Ghosh told PTI. Rahul expressed concerns about his father's safety and urged him to remain in India for some time.
"I have requested my father not to return to Bangladesh and to stay here with us for a while. But he is adamant and wants to go back as he is determined to fight the case of Chinmoy Das Prabhu. We are deeply worried about his safety," he said. Rahul, who has been brought up in India, stays in Barrackpore with his wife and children.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested earlier this month at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while travelling to Chattogram for a rally. He was denied bail and sent to jail till January 2 by a court in Bangladesh.
Ghosh, who has been actively defending the arrested monk, has acknowledged the risks involved in his work. "Since I am defending Chinmoy Das Prabhu, I am aware that false cases could be filed against me, and there is also a threat to my life," he had said earlier.
The Hindu community in Bangladesh, the country's largest minority group, is facing increased vulnerability amidst the ongoing political turmoil. The crisis escalated following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, which came after a massive student movement. The subsequent unrest has left minority communities exposed to violence and displacement.
Historically, Hindus accounted for about 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population during the 1971 Liberation War. However, decades of socio-political marginalisation, sporadic violence, and exodus have reduced their share to approximately 8 per cent of the total population.
The recent political upheaval has only exacerbated the challenges faced by the minority community, placing advocates like Ghosh in an increasingly precarious position.
