The High Court has granted bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, former spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, in a sedition case. The bench of Justice Md. Atabur Rahman and Justice Md. Ali Reza passed the order on April 30 after the final hearing on a previously issued rule regarding his bail.
Lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee appeared on behalf of Chinmoy Das, while Attorney General A.M. Amin Uddin, Deputy Attorney Generals Md. Abdul Baset and Farid Uddin represented the state.
Earlier on February 4, the High Court issued a rule asking why Chinmoy should not be granted bail. The matter was included in the cause list on March 19 for hearing. At the state’s request for more time to present updated information, the hearing was postponed, and April 30 was set as the new date.
Chinmoy’s lawyer informed the court that his client was seriously ill and sought bail on humanitarian grounds. After reviewing the facts, the court granted the petition.
The sedition case was filed on October 31, 2023, at the Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram by Firoz Khan, then General Secretary of the BNP’s Chandgaon Mohora Ward. He accused Chinmoy and 18 others of anti-state activities. Firoz was later relieved of his duties within the BNP. Following the case, Chinmoy and several others were arrested.
On January 2, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court rejected Chinmoy’s bail application. He later appealed to the High Court on January 12.
The situation escalated on November 26 last year, when Chinmoy was denied bail and violent clashes erupted on the court premises, leading to the fatal assault on lawyer Saiful Islam. As a result, court proceedings were suspended multiple times before the matter was finally heard.
After reviewing all relevant aspects, the High Court granted bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das.
