The Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) on Tuesday filed a formal complaint with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and the Special Rapporteur on Minorities, protesting the false prosecution of 116 Hindu minority individuals—primarily lawyers practicing at the Chittagong District and Sessions Court, Bangladesh. The complaint follows a fabricated accusation made by one Khane Alam on November 27.
Alam’s complaint falsely claims that on November 26, during the court appearance of Krishna Das, an ISKCON spokesperson and Hindu monk arrested on trumped-up sedition charges, these Hindu minority lawyers—along with 400-500 unidentified individuals—allegedly attacked mosques and Muslim worshippers with deadly weapons, causing terror from 2.05 pm to 3.30 pm. In truth, it was the Hindu community that was attacked.
“The complaint filed by Khane Alam is entirely false and concocted. It is an attempt at malicious prosecution aimed at further denying and undermining the legal defense of Hindu minority lawyers. It is implausible for a single complainant to identify 116 individuals involved in a protest and detail their personal information. The justice system has been weaponized, and this false complaint seeks to deprive these lawyers of their right to a fair trial and to equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” said Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group.
The RRAG’s complaint comes amid growing concerns over increased attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly under the Interim Government. On November 25, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the British Parliament raised alarms with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, warning of the potential for further global instability due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Bangladesh. This follows the recording of more than 2,000 atrocities against religious minorities and the weaponization of the legal system for retribution since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5.
The RRAG has urged the UN Special Rapporteurs to intervene with Bangladesh’s Interim Government to halt the false prosecution of these 116 Hindu minority lawyers and ensure the protection of their legal rights.Top of Form
