DHAKA, Bangladesh — A court in southeastern Bangladesh on Thursday denied bail for Krishna Das Prabhu, a Hindu leader charged with sedition after leading large rallies advocating for improved security for minority groups in a predominantly Muslim nation. The Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam rejected the plea during a hearing where Prabhu was not present, according to Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan. Security was heightened at the court with police and soldiers on guard due to escalating tensions surrounding Prabhu’s case.

Prabhu, who is associated with the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested after he reportedly disrespected the Bangladeshi flag during a rally in Chattogram. Following his arrest, there have been numerous allegations of violence against Hindus, interpreted by many as a sign of rising religious tensions in Bangladesh since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in early August.

Hindu organizations report that there have been hundreds of attacks against Hindus following the change in government, raising concerns about their safety. Prabhu's defense attorney, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, indicated plans to appeal the court’s decision, asserting that “Prabhu has become a face of minorities in Bangladesh. He represents their voice,” as echoed by Radharamn Das, ISKCON's vice president in Kolkata, who criticized the interim administration for undermining minority protections.

The court’s skepticism towards allowing bail stemmed from previous incidents where violence erupted during Prabhu’s prior hearings, including an altercation that resulted in the death of a Muslim public prosecutor. This situation has sparked outrage from Hindu communities who consider Prabhu a symbol of hope amidst increasing persecution.

In addition, reports indicate that the family of the murdered prosecutor has launched legal action against over 50 Hindu lawyers allegedly involved, further complicating the already fraught relationship between the communities in Bangladesh. Responding to these ongoing issues, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, faces criticism for its handling of minority rights. Yunus, however, countered that accusations of increased violence against minorities have been exaggerated, suggesting a political undercurrent to these claims.

The situation remains precarious as Bangladesh deals with its internal divisions, and the international community closely watches the developments regarding minority rights and religious freedom in the country. For more on this story, refer to the original articles from AP News and Al Jazeera.