Rush Hour: Bangladesh court orders Hindu monk’s arrest, Moody’s cuts India growth forecast and more

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A Bangladesh court has ordered the arrest of Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in four fresh cases linked to vandalism during a deadly clash with the police in November. Das, who has been in jail since November 25 for allegedly disrespecting the national flag during a rally, now faces five cases, including one of murder and another of sedition.

A November 26 scuffle between his supporters and lawyers in Chattogram left one lawyer dead. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concern over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and urged a fair trial for Das. Dhaka dismissed the remarks as interference in internal matters.

Das is a former associate of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON. The group distanced itself from Das, but defended his right to peacefully protest for the welfare of Hindus in Bangladesh. Read on.

Global ratings agency Moody’s has cut India’s growth forecast for 2025 to 6.3%, down from 6.7%, citing global trade uncertainties and rising geopolitical tensions, particularly with Pakistan. In its May Global Macro Outlook, the agency warned that instability in economic policy and...

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