Dhaka: The Bangladesh Supreme Court’s Appellate Division on Wednesday stayed a High Court order that had granted bail to Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case, according to local media reports.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque, acting as Chamber Judge, issued the stay following a state appeal filed shortly after the High Court’s decision. The stay will remain effective until a leave-to-appeal petition is filed and the full verdict is released.
Earlier in the day, the High Court bench of Justices Md Atoar Rahman and Md Ali Reza granted Das bail after a hearing on his petition. He had been arrested on November 25 at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in connection with allegations of desecrating the national flag during an October rally.
The case was filed by Firoz Khan, a former BNP leader from Chattogram, accusing Das and 18 others of sedition. A Chittagong court had previously denied him bail and ordered jail custody.
Das’s arrest sparked widespread protests from the Hindu minority community. The issue also drew concern from India, which criticized the arrest amid political unrest in Bangladesh following the exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during mass anti-government demonstrations.
