Application for parole seeking Chinmoy Das's release to see ailing mother, administration says no scope

Ranjan Kumar Dhar, elder brother of Chinmoy Krishna Das who is in jail, has filed an application seeking conditional temporary release (parole) for him to see his ailing elderly mother. He submitted the application to Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram and ex-officio chairman of the Jail Management Committee, on Wednesday.

However, the administration has informed the family that there is no provision for release on parole to see an ailing relative, adding that the scope for release on parole exists only if a relative has died.

Syed Mahbubul Haque, additional district magistrate of Chattogram, said Chinmoy Krishna Das's family has applied for conditional temporary release (parole), but there is no scope for parole to see someone who is ill, and that the provision for parole exists only if a relative has died. He said the matter has been verbally conveyed to the family.

Ranjan Kumar Dhar said their mother, Sandhya Rani Dhar, 71, has long been suffering from various complications including heart disease, lung infection and high blood pressure. He said she has been undergoing treatment in hospital for more than a month, and was moved to the ICU last Saturday after her physical condition deteriorated.

Ranjan Kumar Dhar said their mother has repeatedly expressed a wish to see Chinmoy at least once with her own eyes, and it was to fulfil this wish that they applied for his release on parole. He said the administration, however, informed them that there is no scope for parole in this case.

Chinmoy Krishna Das is spokesperson of the Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote. He was arrested on November 25, 2024, in a sedition case filed over allegations of insulting the national flag. He was produced before a Chattogram court the following day, which ordered that he be sent to jail.

On the day Chinmoy was produced in court, there was a clash between his followers and law enforcement personnel. During that time, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was allegedly beaten and hacked to death on Bundle Road in Pathorghata adjacent to the court. Alif's father, Jamal Uddin, later filed a murder case naming 31 people. The court also ordered that Chinmoy Krishna Das be shown arrested in that case.