Bangladesh court rejects bail petition of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das

The High Court of Bangladesh on Sunday has reportedly rejected the bail petition filed by Hindu monk Brahmachari Chinmoy Krishna Das citing his ongoing trial in the lower court regarding the 2024 killing of a lawyer.

Das, former ISKCON leader, who also serves as a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was initially detained at Dhaka’s International Airport on November 25, 2024, for alleged sedition which involved insulting of the Bangladeshi national flag.

After his arrest, he applied for bail which was refused by court in the southeastern port city of Chattogram. Following the refusal of bail, it sparked outrage in his supporters across Dhaka. This led to protests that turned into violence in Chattogram, resulting in the death of Saiful Islam Alif, a junior government prosecutor.

 On 19 January, the Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal indicted Das alongside 38 other individuals in connection with the lawyer's death, formally commencing the trial proceedings against him.

Previously, on April 30 last year, the High Court reportedly had granted him bail in the sedition case. However, that order was later suspended by the Supreme Court's apex Appellate Division, as per reports.