A Bangladeshi court has granted bail to Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in one specific legal matter, though he remains behind bars as he faces a series of other charges. The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Judicial Magistrate Shakhawat Hossain in Chattogram, following a formal hearing. Despite this reprieve, the monk is still entangled in six other cases, the most serious of which involves the murder of a lawyer.
Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, the monk’s legal representative, explained during a phone call that the case, in which bail was secured, dates back to 2023. It was initiated by former minister Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin and centres on allegations of land grabbing, intimidation, and assault within the Mekhal area of Hathazari. Chinmoy was one of six individuals named in that particular complaint.
The broader legal crisis surrounding the monk intensified on November 26, 2024. During violent clashes that erupted after a bail hearing regarding a sedition case— related to the alleged desecration of the national flag — lawyer Saiful Islam was brutally beaten and hacked to death. In the aftermath, the victim’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case naming 31 individuals.
Beyond the murder charge, several other cases have been lodged concerning attacks on police officers, the obstruction of government officials, and the detonation of crude 'cocktail' explosives. In the murder investigation, police submitted a chargesheet on July 1 last year, which alleged that the lawyer’s killing was carried out following direct incitement and instructions from Chinmoy Krishna Das.
By August 25, the court had formally accepted the chargesheet against 39 accused persons, including the monk. The trial has now progressed to the stage of hearing witness testimony, ensuring that his legal battles are far from over despite Thursday's bail order.
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