The High Court has rejected the bail prayer of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader, in a sedition case.

The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why Chinmoy should not be granted bail in this case on Tuesday.

The bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza issued the rule after holding hearing on a petition filed by Chinmoy seeking bail in the case.

On October 25 last year, a large gathering of the Sanatani community was held in Chattogram under the leadership of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

A sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Chinmoy, on charge of belittling the national flag on October 31.

On November 22, another large rally was held in Rangpur under the leadership of Chinmoy who was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 in the sedition case.

On January 2 this year, Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam denied bail to Chinmoy in the sedition case.

On December 11 last year, the same court rejected his bail petition in the same case.

The Chattogram court rejected Chinmoy's bail petition, ordered him to be sent to jail, and the decision sparked clashes between his followers, law enforcers and lawyers on the court premises.

At one stage of the clash, one lawyer, a lawyer named advocate Saiful Islam Alif, was hacked to death outside the court premises.

Several cases have so far been filed against Chinmoy and others following the murder of the lawyer.