Bangladesh court grants bail to Hindu leader in two cases; four more keep him jailed
Bangladesh's High Court on Sunday granted bail to Hindu rights leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in two cases, but his release from prison remains unlikely as he faces four other pending cases, including charges of treason and murder. The decision was announced by his lawyer, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya, who confirmed that the bail order applies only to the two cases considered by the court.
Mr. Bhattacharya said the two-judge bench allowed the bail petition in cases involving charges of attempted murder, vandalism, and obstructing public officials in the discharge of their duties. However, he noted that the order would not ensure Mr. Das's immediate release because he is still accused in four other cases, which include treason and murder. Both prosecution and defence lawyers agreed that the bail decision has no bearing on the remaining charges.
Mr. Das, a Hindu monk formerly associated with ISKCON, was arrested in November 2024 on sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the national flag. His arrest sparked widespread protests and communal tensions in Bangladesh. Subsequently, he was booked in several additional cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder, and vandalism, leading to his continued detention.
The murder case against Mr. Das is linked to an incident in which a government prosecutor was hacked to death in the southeastern port city of Chattogram by activists protesting his arrest. The two cases for which bail has now been granted are separate from this murder case and the sedition charges.
Mr. Das is a spokesman for the Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, a Hindu group that organised several rallies in Bangladesh in 2024 demanding minority rights, safety, and protection from civil unrest. These protests took place after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, which followed a violent student-led street movement. The group has been vocal in calling for measures to protect Hindu communities and their religious sites.
India reacted strongly to Mr. Das's arrest, expressing "deep concern" and urging Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities. The arrest came at a time when India-Bangladesh relations had turned frosty after Ms. Hasina's ouster, with her seeking asylum in New Delhi. This created friction between the two neighbouring governments, with the interim administration in Dhaka accusing India of sheltering a deposed leader and India voicing worries over minority safety.
Mr. Das's legal team has argued that he has been in custody for an extended period and suffers from various ailments. Several of his earlier bail petitions were either rejected or stayed by courts. The cases against him are currently at different stages of proceedings, and a final resolution may take considerable time.
The High Court's decision on Sunday is a partial relief for Mr. Das, but the multiple pending cases mean his release is not guaranteed. The trial in the other cases will continue, and Mr. Das will remain in prison unless he secures bail in those matters as well. This development underscores the complex legal and political circumstances surrounding his detention.
