Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, returned to Chattogram Central Jail on Thursday night after attending the cremation and last rites of his mother on a five-hour parole.
He entered the jail at around 8:03pm, well before the expiry of the parole granted to him, which was valid from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
Chinmoy’s mother, Sandhya Rani Dhar, 70, died early Thursday while undergoing treatment at Pundrik Dham in Mekhal union of Hathazari upazila. She had been suffering from cancer and other health complications for a long time.
Following the death, Chinmoy’s family applied to the Chattogram district administration seeking permission for him to attend his mother’s last rites.
On the basis of the application, Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque allowed Chinmoy to leave jail on parole for five hours, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
After being released from Chattogram Central Jail in the afternoon, Chinmoy travelled to Pundrik Dham in Mekhal, where he attended the cremation and other religious rituals for his mother.
He stayed there with family members and relatives before leaving for the jail at around 7:00pm.
He reached Chattogram Central Jail at 8:03pm under security arrangements, completing the parole-related process without exceeding the permitted period.
Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, senior jail superintendent of Chattogram Central Jail, confirmed his return, saying Chinmoy was brought back to the jail between 8:00pm and 8:15pm.
He is currently in custody as a detained accused in a case filed with Kotwali Police Station, the jail authorities said.
Chinmoy Krishna Das’s family name is Chandan Kumar Dhar. He later adopted the name Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari after taking religious initiation. He is the youngest among three brothers and one sister.
He came into prominence as a spokesperson for the Sanatani community’s movement following the political changeover on August 5, 2024. The movement raised concerns over attacks on minority communities and put forward an eight-point set of demands.
In October 2024, a sedition case was filed against him with Kotwali Police Station over allegations of disrespecting the national flag. He was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on November 25 that year, and the following day a court denied him bail and sent him to jail.
His arrest was followed by protests and clashes outside the Chattogram court premises. During the violence, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed near the court area.
Chinmoy is currently facing eight cases, including the murder case filed over Alif’s death. The case is now under trial, and a charge sheet has been submitted against 39 accused, including Chinmoy.
He has obtained bail from the High Court in five cases, but remains in custody in connection with the remaining cases.
Thursday’s temporary release allowed him to attend an important family religious ceremony following his mother’s death. After completing the cremation and last rites, he returned to jail within the authorised parole period and resumed his detention.
