Das was arrested in November 2024 on sedition charges over allegations that he disrespected Bangladesh’s national flag.
Das was arrested in November 2024 on sedition charges over allegations that he disrespected Bangladesh’s national flag. His arrest triggered protests and heightened communal tensions in the country. He was later charged in several other cases, including murder, attempted murder and vandalism. He is facing six criminal cases in total and has secured bail from the high court in four of them.
Bangladesh authorities have granted jailed Hindu rights leader Chinmoy Krishna Das five-hour parole to attend his mother’s funeral, local media reported on Thursday.
His mother, 70-year-old Sandhya Rani Dhar, died early on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Hathazari. He will be released for five hours.
“Following an application by his brother over the death of his mother, we have passed an order to release Chinmoy Krishna from jail on parole for five hours in accordance with the law,” The Daily Star quoted Islam Mia as saying. Das travelled to Hathazari for the funeral before returning to jail within the permitted period, according to bdnews24.com. Chattogram district deputy commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia ordered his release after Das’s family submitted an application. “The application has been approved. He will have to travel to Hathazari, attend his mother’s funeral and return within that period,” the news portal quoted Swatantra Gauranga Das Brahmachari, vice-president of Iskcon’s Prabartak Sri Krishna Temple, as saying.
Because his bail in the sedition case has been stayed, however, Das remains in jail.
Proceedings in a murder case against him are also continuing before the Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal.
The group organised several rallies in Bangladesh in 2024, calling for minority rights, security and protection from civil unrest after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina following a violent student-led street movement. The murder case relates to the death of government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif, who was hacked to death in Chattogram by activists protesting Das’s arrest. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Das was previously associated with Iskcon and serves as a spokesman for Hindu Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote.