Hindu monk Chinmoy Das, arrested for sedition in Bangladesh, gets bail

Six months after he was arrested in a sedition case, the Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former Iskcon priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chinmoy Das’s arrest, which sparked outrage in India, came amid a crackdown on members of the Hindu community after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led regime.

During the hearing, the Hindu priest’s lawyer said Das was ill and suffering in jail without trial.

Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 after a case was filed against him for allegedly disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag during a rally of the Hindu community.

He gained prominence after addressing a large protest rally in Rangpur, condemning the violence against Hindus.

Das was sent to jail by a Chattogram court on November 26. His bail was rejected by the same court on December 11.

Das’s arrest came against the backdrop of growing violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, including attacks on temples, homes, and businesses.

Bangladesh authorities also ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of 17 people associated with Iskcon, including that of Das.

According to a reply by the government in Parliament, there have been 76 cases of attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh. Over 200 temples have also been attacked by radical Islamists.