Tight security measures have been taken in the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court this morning ahead of the bail hearing of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON leader facing a sedition case filed over disrespecting the national flag.

Law enforcement has implemented extensive security protocols in and around the court area. Entry to the premises is restricted to litigants and authorized personnel, with verification of documents at the entrances. A large contingent of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and army personnel, along with plainclothes officers, has been deployed to maintain order and ensure safety.

Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), AAM Humayun Kabir, confirmed the heightened security measures, taken due to the sensitive nature of the case and to ensure the safety of those attending the hearing.

A team of 11 Supreme Court lawyers arrived at the court this morning to attend the bail hearing.

Court sources said the team, led by lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, will represent Chinmoy, also spokesperson for Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote.

The lawyers entered the court premises around 10:15am.

Contacted yesterday evening, lawyer Apurba told The Daily Star, "We have come to Chattogram under the banner of Ainjibi Oikya Parishad, and we will move for Chinmoy in the court for his bail."

"I already got the Vakalatnama from Chinmoy. I'm a member of both the Supreme Court and Chattogram Bar associations, so I don't need authorisation from any local lawyer to move the case," he said over the phone.

A Vakalatnama is a document that authorises a lawyer to act on behalf of his/her client.

Earlier, an anticipatory bail petition of Chinmoy was rejected by a Chattogram court as his lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, a senior High Court lawyer, had no Vakalatnama to represent Chinmoy in court and authorisation of any local lawyer to move the case.

However, several lawyers yesterday confirmed that he would not represent Chinmoy in court today.

On December 3, Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge Saiful Islam fixed today for the bail hearing.

Court sources said the SC lawyers from Dhaka also spoke to the president and the secretary of Chittagong District Bar Association (CDBA) about the bail procedure of the 70 lawyers, who are among the 115 accused in a case filed by slain lawyer Saiful Islam Alif's brother Khan-e-Alam on charges related to explosives, attacks on justice seekers and vandalism on November 26.

Subrata Chowdhury, an SC lawyer who deals with the bail procedure of the accused lawyers, told this newspaper, "I talked to the CDBA leaders about their bail procedure. We, the lawyers' community, have a strong unity and bond regardless of political affiliations. If any lawyer has been charged wrongfully, all of us will work together to free them."

As of 10:30am this morning, the judge had yet to take the bench to commence the hearing.