Bangladesh Supreme Court Halts Bail for Hindu Monk Chinmoy Das Amid Sedition Case Controversy
In a dramatic legal turn, the Bangladesh Supreme Court on Wednesday evening stayed an earlier High Court order that had granted bail to Hindu monk and minority rights advocate Chinmoy Krishna Das, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar. The stay comes just hours after the High Court had approved his release, nearly six months after his arrest in a controversial sedition case.
Justice Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division passed the stay order following an urgent appeal by the state’s legal team. The order will remain in effect until a formal leave-to-appeal is filed and the full text of the High Court’s verdict is released.
Das, a former ISKCON monk and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was arrested on November 25 last year for allegedly disrespecting the national flag during a rally in Chattogram. His arrest sparked widespread protests both within Bangladesh and internationally, especially among human rights and Hindu community groups.
Currently serving as the President of Pundarik Dham, Das has long been a vocal figure advocating for religious freedom and protection of minority rights in Bangladesh. His prolonged detention has drawn criticism amid growing concerns over the treatment of the Hindu minority in the country.
The political situation in Bangladesh remains tense following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 and the installation of an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Since then, attacks on the Hindu community have reportedly increased, with India expressing strong concern over what it calls “systematic persecution” of Hindus in the region.
Tensions further escalated with the recent abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a leader of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Committee, on April 18—an act that has only deepened fears among minority communities.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
