September 2026 : The mother of prominent Bangladeshi Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das died on Thursday without fulfilling her final wish of seeing her son, who remains in jail.
Seventy-one-year-old Sandhya Rani Dhar passed away at the Sri Sri Pundarika Dham Ashram in Hathazari, Chittagong district, where her son had lived for several years.
Sandhya Rani had been undergoing treatment at a hospital after being diagnosed with cancer. However, she reportedly chose to leave the hospital and spend her final days at the ashram. Her family had also sought temporary parole for Chinmoy Krishna Das so that he could meet his ailing mother.
The family's request was submitted to Chittagong Deputy Commissioner and ex-officio President of the Prison Management Committee Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah. However, authorities reportedly informed the family that there was no provision for granting parole to a prisoner to visit a sick relative.
Chittagong Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque said parole could be considered in the event of the death of a relative, but not merely to visit an ailing family member.
Confirming his mother's death, Chinmoy's brother Anjan Kumar Dhar said the family was devastated that Chinmoy could not meet his mother while she was alive.
Another brother, Ranjan Kumar Dhar, said the family would take their mother's body to the Hathazari Upazila Health Complex and seek parole for Chinmoy on the basis of her death and the necessary medical documents. Her last rites are expected to be performed at Pundarik Dham.
According to local media reports, Sandhya Rani had been deeply distressed by her son's prolonged imprisonment, repeated denial of bail and reports concerning his health. The family had hoped that Chinmoy's recent bail proceedings might finally lead to his release.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot, has remained in custody despite securing bail in two cases. His release has reportedly been prevented by two other cases pending against him.
He was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, 2024, and sent to jail the following day after a Chattogram court rejected his bail plea. The court again denied bail on December 11.
More recently, a Bangladesh High Court bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher granted him bail after hearing two separate bail petitions. However, he continues to remain behind bars because of the other cases.
