Bangladesh court grants Chinmoy Das bail in two cases, jail stay continues

Dhaka,UPDATED: Aug 2, 2026 20:30 IST

Bangladesh's High Court on Sunday granted bail to jailed Hindu rights leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in two cases, his lawyer said. However, the order will not lead to his immediate release as he is still facing four other cases.

Das, a Hindu monk arrested in November 2024 on sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting the national flag, has since been named in several more cases, including murder, attempted murder and vandalism. His arrest had triggered protests and communal tension in Bangladesh, and India had then expressed "deep concern" and asked Dhaka to ensure the safety "of Hindus and all minorities".

"The (two-judge) High Court bench granted his bail petition in two cases involving charges of murder attempts, vandalism and obstructing officials in performing their duties," Das's lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya said on Sunday.

Both prosecution and defence lawyers said the High Court order would not ensure Das's release because four more cases, including treason and murder, are still pending against him. The murder case relates to an incident in which a government prosecutor was hacked to death in the south-eastern port city of Chattogram by activists protesting Das's arrest.

Das, who was previously associated with ISKCON, is a spokesman for the Hindu group Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote. The group organised several rallies in Bangladesh in 2024 after the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina following a violent student-led street protest, demanding minority rights, safety and protection from civil unrest.

The cases against Das are at different stages in the courts. His lawyers have been seeking bail, saying he has been in jail for a long time and is suffering from ailments. Several of his earlier bail pleas were either rejected or stayed. The High Court order brings him relief in two cases, but he remains in custody because of the other pending cases.

With PTI Inputs

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