The Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, whose arrest in November 2024 on charges of sedition sparked an international outcry and aggravated tensions between India and Bangladesh.
The decision by a two-judge bench comes after months of legal battles and diplomatic pressure from Hindu organisations and human rights activists who termed his arrest as “judicial harassment.”
Chinmoy Das Granted Bail, But Release Still Awaits
Das, who was arrested on November 25, 2024, by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Police, is expected to walk free unless the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court issues a stay on the verdict, said Advocate Prolad Deb Nath, one of Das’ lawyers, in a statement to The Daily Star.
His legal team, led by Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, had earlier highlighted that the Hindu monk was gravely ill and denied proper treatment in jail. Das was formally charged with sedition and disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a Hindu community rally. He was sent to jail the next day, and his bail plea was rejected multiple times, most notably on December 11.
Arrest Sparks Uproar Across Borders
Chinmoy Krishna Das had become a symbolic figure after organizing peaceful protests against rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. His sudden arrest at Dhaka airport and subsequent imprisonment triggered protests from the Hindu community across Bangladesh and India.
ALSO READ: ‘Foundation stone of a new Babri mosque in Ayodhya will be laid by Pakistan army soldiers’: Pak MP
The Indian government had officially expressed concern, linking his arrest to a broader pattern of targeted actions against minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024.
“The arrest of Das fits into a worrying pattern of attacks on minorities since August last year,” said a senior Indian diplomat earlier this year. “We urge Dhaka to protect the fundamental rights of all its citizens, especially minority groups.”
Bangladesh Responds, Dismisses Political Motivation
In response, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry refuted allegations of political or religious targeting. It said, “The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries.”
ALSO READ: J&K schools near LoC give wartime training to students amid Indo-Pak tensions
Authorities claimed the arrest was based on specific criminal charges, and not politically motivated or linked to his religious background.
Background: Rising Attacks on Minorities Post-Hasina
Since the exit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s 8 per cent Hindu minority has reported hundreds of targeted attacks in over 50 districts, escalating fears of fundamentalist resurgence. Das had been vocal in demanding that the interim government take action against radical elements, a stance that reportedly made him a target.
The Chinmoy Das case has now become a flashpoint in India-Bangladesh relations, with observers warning that mishandling minority issues could have long-term diplomatic consequences.
