Sedition case filed against Sanatan Jagaran Mancha leader, 19 others for disrespecting national flag

The case stems from the hoisting of a saffron flag over the national flag during a rally organised by the Hindu community at Chattogram's New Market intersection

A sedition case has been filed against Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari, a spokesman for the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, and 19 other members of the Hindu community for allegedly hoisting a saffron-coloured flag above the national flag at Chattogram’s New Market intersection.

The case was filed on Wednesday night at Kotwali Police Station under various sections of the Penal Code.

Plaintiff Firoz Khan named 19 people, including Lilraj Das Brahmachari, head of the of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Prabartak Sri Krishna Temple, and 15-20 unnamed individuals in the case.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations), Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said that two people -- Rajesh Chowdhury and Hriday Das -- have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Following the Anti-discrimination Student Movement that toppled the Sheikh Hasina regime, a pole with the national flag was placed at the New Market square. Later, on Oct 25, a saffron-coloured flag was allegedly placed over the national flag during a rally organised by the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Mancha at Laldighi field.

Images of the incident soon began circulating on social media, sparking outrage. The flag was subsequently removed.

The rally at Laldighi field attracted a large crowd. During the event, announcements were made for district and divisional rallies and a long march to Dhaka to press for a series of demands to safeguard minority rights in the country.

The case alleged that on the day of the rally, a saffron religious flag associated with ISKCON was placed over the national flag at New Market -- an act described as 'tantamount to rejecting the integrity of the state'.

The case further accuses the defendants of engaging in sedition by disrespecting the national flag with the intent to 'undermine the country’s sovereignty and create unrest', while aiming to 'destabilise the state by displaying a religious flag above the national flag'.