Bangladesh HC rejects detained Hindu monk's bail plea

DHAKA: Bangladesh High Court on Sunday rejected a bail petition of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das as he is being tried by a lower court in connection with a lawyer's killing in 2024 during clashes in Chittagong after he was denied bail in a sedition case.

Das's lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya told reporters that two-judge bench of Justices KM Zahid Sarwar and Sheikh Abu Taher, however, set Monday for hearing bail petitions on four other cases against the monk. "HC rejected our bail petition as recording of witnesses testimony is underway in the trial (lower) court in Chittagong," Bhattacharya said.

Prosecutors earlier said 39 people were accused of junior govt prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif murder, while 23, including Das, were in custody to stand the trial in person with the remaining 16 absconding. Das's lawyer sought the bail saying the monk was languishing in jail for a long time with ailments.



On April 30 last year, HC granted him bail in the sedition case - allegedly insulting Bangladesh's national flag - but Supreme Court's apex appellate division subsequently stayed the bail order.