Bangladesh HC grants Bail to former ISKCON leader –

In Bangladesh, the High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and a former ISKCON leader in a sedition case. The bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order.
Earlier, on February 4, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain why Chinmoy should not be granted bail in the sedition case, rejecting his bail plea, reports United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, last year, many incidents of violence and vandalism were reported against minorities in Bangladesh. Chinmoy Krishna Das and Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote have been advocating on behalf of the Sanatani or Hindu community across Bangladesh, raising eight-point demands for the safety and rights of minorities.
Following massive public rallies of Hindu community at Chittagong on October 25 and at Rangpur, North Bangladesh on November 22, Chinmoy had created a sensation in the Socio-political circle of Bangladesh. On October 30, a sedition case was filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das and 18 others at Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong on ground of allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above the official flag of Bangladesh during a public rally at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan on October 25.
Das was arrested by the Dhaka police on 25 November, 2024 from Dhaka airport while he had reached there to catch a flight for Chittagong. Following his arrest, members of Hindu Community protested against the arrest of Das across Bangladesh and they had demanded immediate release of him. Following day, a Chattogram court rejected Chinmoy’s bail petition, ordered him to be sent to jail and the decision sparked clashes between his followers, law enforcers and lawyers on the court premises.