Former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das granted bail in Bangladesh

A Bangladesh court on Wednesday granted bail to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested last November on sedition charges—an incident that triggered widespread outrage among minority rights groups in the country.

Das, currently the spokesperson of the newly-formed Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatan Jagaran Jot, was taken into custody on November 25 following allegations of sedition. 

The coalition he represents is an alliance of two minority rights organizations—Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Manch and Bangladesh Sommilito Shankhaloghu Jot—that advocate for the rights and representation of Hindus and other minority communities in the Muslim-majority country.

The sedition case stems from an incident on October 30, when a rally organized by the Hindu community in Chittagong’s New Market area allegedly involved the disrespect of Bangladesh’s national flag. The case, filed at the Kotwali Police Station, named 19 individuals including Das.

Chinmoy Krishna Das is also known for his role as the head of Pundarik Dham, a religious centre located in Hathazari thana, around 18 km from Chittagong city. According to the ISKCON Centres website, the Dham serves as a spiritual and cultural hub for the Hindu community in the region.

Rights groups in Bangladesh and abroad had condemned Das’s arrest, calling it a targeted attack against minority leaders. With the court’s decision to grant bail, his supporters have welcomed the move, expressing hope that it marks a step toward justice and religious harmony.