Bangladesh court grants bail to jailed Hindu rights leader; release unlikely

Dhaka: Bangladesh's High Court on Sunday granted bail to jailed Hindu rights leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in two more cases, but his release is unlikely as he faces charges in other cases, local media reported.

Das was also granted bail in two cases last month involving vandalism, attack and obstruction of government duty.

The Hindu monk was arrested in November 2024 on sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the national flag, which sparked protests and communal tensions.


He was subsequently booked in several additional cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder and vandalism.

The bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher granted him bail on Sunday in two cases over vandalism and obstructing police, bdnews24 news portal reported.

Das faces six criminal cases in total and has now secured High Court bail in four, his lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya was quoted as saying by the news portal.

However, he will not be released immediately because of the other cases against him, The Business Standard news portal reported.

His bail in the sedition case remains stayed, while the trial in the murder case is under way at the Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal.

The murder case concerns an incident in which a government prosecutor, Saiful Islam Alif, was hacked to death in the southeastern port city of Chattogram by activists protesting Das's arrest.

India had at that time expressed "deep concern" over the Hindu monk's arrest and asked Dhaka to ensure the safety "of Hindus and all minorities".

It came at a time when India-Bangladesh relations turned frosty following the August 2024 ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina - driven by her asylum in New Delhi.

Das, who was previously associated with ISKCON, is a spokesman for a group named Hindu Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote.

The group organised several rallies in Bangladesh, demanding minority rights, safety and protection from civil unrest in 2024 after the ouster of Hasina following a violent student-led street protest.