After more than five months in detention, prominent Bangladeshi Hindu monk and former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das has finally been granted bail by the Bangladesh High Court.
The decision, issued on Wednesday, followed a prolonged legal battle that had sparked widespread protests and unrest among the country’s minority communities.
Chinmoy Krishna, who also serves as the convener of the Hindu Jagran Alliance of Bangladesh, was arrested on 25 November 2024 on charges of sedition and allegedly insulting the national flag.
The case was filed by Firoz Khan, a local leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who was later expelled from the party for initiating the case with apparent political intent. Despite his expulsion, the case remained active, keeping the monk behind bars for over five months.
A joint bench comprising Justices Atwar Rahman Khan and Ali Reza of the High Court heard his bail petition and granted the application after reviewing arguments from both the defence and the state.
The court had earlier issued a rule on 4 February, seeking an explanation from the government on why bail should not be granted. Although the hearing was originally set for 23 April, it was eventually conducted on 30 April.
Sources indicate that the investigating agency submitted a report which may have influenced the court’s final decision.
Chinmoy Krishna’s legal team maintained that the charges were politically motivated and cited procedural irregularities, including alleged intimidation of lawyers and repeated absences at hearings due to security concerns.
On one occasion, his bail application was rejected after his lawyer reportedly failed to appear in court. That rejection sparked unrest outside the Chittagong court premises, during which one person was allegedly killed.
Advocate Hindol Nandy, one of Chinmoy Krishna’s lawyers, told NewsArenaIndia that although bail had been granted, the monk was unlikely to be released immediately due to procedural formalities and upcoming public holidays.
“Tomorrow is a holiday for May Day, followed by the weekend. If the government chooses to challenge the bail order in the Supreme Court on Sunday, we will represent Chinmoy Krishna,” he said. A caveat has already been filed in the Appellate Division to counter any potential move by the state.
Chinmoy Krishna’s arrest came amid growing tensions in Bangladesh following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a mass uprising last year. Following her departure, an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took office.
However, there have been increasing reports of minority persecution under this transitional administration, with Chinmoy Krishna’s arrest and extended detention becoming a focal point.
His imprisonment provoked strong reactions from minority communities across the country. Demonstrations demanding his release took place in Dhaka, Chittagong and various rural areas, with activists accusing the authorities of targeting religious minorities and spiritual leaders.
The High Court’s decision to grant bail offers a major relief to Chinmoy Krishna’s supporters and minority rights advocates. However, the final outcome may hinge on whether the government decides to contest the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Chinmoy Krishna, revered as a spiritual figure and a respected voice within Bangladesh’s Hindu community, is expected to be released once the necessary court procedures are completed—unless the apex court intervenes to stay the bail. His case has come to symbolise the broader struggle for minority rights and judicial fairness in the country.
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