Date: 30 April, 2025

Overview of the Court Decision:

The Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division has stayed the High Court’s bail order granted to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Jote, in a treason case.

  • The decision was made on Wednesday evening, April 30, by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division.

Earlier Bail Granted by High Court:

  • Earlier the same day, a High Court bench consisting of Justice Md. Ataur Rahman and Justice Md. Ali granted bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das.
  • Following the bail order, the state filed an urgent petition with the Chamber Court seeking a stay on the High Court’s decision.

Legal Representation:

  • Chinmoy Krishna Das was represented by lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya.
  • Representing the state were Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque and Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan.

Background of the Treason Case:

  • On October 25, 2023, a large Sanatani community rally was held in Chattogram, where Chinmoy Krishna Das was a key figure.
  • On October 31, a treason case was filed against him and 18 others, accusing them of dishonoring the national flag during the rally.

Subsequent Events and Arrest:

  • On November 22, 2023, Chinmoy led another large rally in Rangpur.
  • He was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 in connection with the treason case.
  • The following day, his bail plea was rejected, and a Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate ordered his detention in jail.

Violence Following the Arrest:

  • After the court ordered his detention, clashes broke out in Chattogram between law enforcement and Chinmoy’s followers, including lawyers.
  • During the unrest, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death outside the court premises.
  • Since then, Chinmoy Krishna Das has remained in jail.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings:

  • On January 2, 2024, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge rejected another bail plea.
  • Chinmoy’s legal team then appealed to the High Court, leading to the temporary bail granted—and now stayed by the Chamber Court.

Conclusion:

  • The legal battle involving Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari continues to draw national attention, blending allegations of treason, religious activism, and violent fallout from judicial proceedings.

The final verdict from the Appellate Division will be pivotal, not only for the accused but for the broader implications on freedom of expression, minority rights, and state authority in Bangladesh.

Other Detail

High Court Grants, Chamber Court Halts: Legal Tug-of-War Over Chinmoy Krishna Das.