Kolkata: Amid constant incidents of violence on minorities residing in Bangladesh and attacks on temples, Rabindra Ghosh, lawyer of arrested monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, talking to the Free Press Journal confirms that if his health permits he will continue with his fight for the arrested monk.
Q. We have seen that several Hindu lawyers have been attacked and an open threat was also given that if anyone stands in favour of the monk will face dire consequences. Aren’t you afraid?
Ghosh. For the last 30 years I have been fighting for human rights. Not just for the minorities I fight also for the majority there. Everyone knows me for that. I have been a ‘Mukti Jodha’ and fought for the Liberation.
Q. You were not allowed to fight the case earlier and it was said you are from the Supreme Court. What will you do if the same thing happens on January 2?
Ghosh. For the last 35 years I have been practicing in the Supreme Court and according to the law I don’t need ‘Waqalatnama’. It is being done intentionally. If I am fit and if the doctors permit, I will go back to Bangladesh and will try to get a local lawyer. But the problem is that all Hindu lawyers are scared as either they are beaten or given false cases. Though I have been given police protection.
Q. What is the exact condition of minorities across Bangladesh?
Ghosh. The condition of minorities is deteriorating with each day. The violence and attacks should be stopped. From India I am monitoring the conspiracy that is further being hatched against the arrested monk. But giving me more pain is that now Bangladeshi media is slamming me and my family and my visit to India. They do not believe that I came to India for treatment. My son stay in India for the last 26 years.
Q. Did you talk to the arrested monk Chinmoy Krishna Das?
Ghosh. I went to meet him in the jail. He was teary and told me to also take care of the other saints who got arrested while serving Chinmoy Prabhu food and medicine in the jail.
Q. Was the condition of the Hindu minorities better during Sheikh Hasina's government?
Ghosh. Attacks on minorities also took place during the Awami League government but not so rampant. The present situation is deadly. I don’t understand why the minorities will leave Bangladesh? This is our motherland too. People of all religions had fought in the Liberation war in 1971.
Q. Md. Yunus' government said that an election will be possible by June 2026. Do you think that the situation will worsen?
Ghosh. Sheikh Hasina didn’t conduct an election properly which led to this downfall. But I am hopeful that the situation will improve by the time of the election.
Q. Slogan of “Joy Bangla’ is now banned in Bangladesh. People are being beaten if they write or say this chant. How do you see this?
Ghosh. This is not good. “Joy Bangla" chant has resonated with Bangladesh since the beginning.