Chinmoy Krishna Das: In a deeply heartbreaking incident that has ignited widespread emotional and political discussions, Sandhya Rani Dhar, the 71-year-old mother of jailed Bangladeshi Hindu leader and rights activist Chinmoy Krishna Das, passed away on Thursday morning.
Sandhya Rani Dhar, who was battling advanced cancer, breathed her last at the Sri Sri Pundarik Dham Ashram in Chittagong.
According to media reports, her final wish was simply to see her son’s face one last time before dying, a wish that ultimately went unfulfilled due to his ongoing detention.
The tragic passing of his mother comes at a time when Chinmoy Krishna Das has been incarcerated in a Bangladesh prison since November 2024 on charges including sedition, following his active role in voicing concerns over human rights violations and alleged atrocities against minority Hindu communities in the country.
A Mother’s Unfulfilled Last Wish
Chinmoy Krishna Das: Sandhya Rani Dhar had been critically ill for a considerable time. According to media reports citing family members, she was diagnosed with cancer during treatment at a Chittagong hospital.
Realizing that her condition was terminal, she expressed a desire to leave the hospital environment and spend her remaining days at the Sri Sri Pundarik Dham Ashram.
Throughout her final days, her primary hope was to meet her son, whom she had not seen since his arrest in late 2024.
Despite family efforts to facilitate a meeting or secure early legal relief, the reunion never took place while she was alive. Family sources noted that she repeatedly asked for her son until her final moments on Thursday morning.
Five-Hour Parole Granted for Final Rites
Chinmoy Krishna Das: Following the news of her passing, family members and legal representatives immediately submitted an urgent petition to local administrative authorities seeking parole for Chinmoy Krishna Das so he could attend his mother’s funeral and perform the required last rites.
According to media reports, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam reviewed the application and granted a temporary five-hour parole release.
The limited duration of the release has drawn intense reaction from rights activists and community leaders, who questioned the administrative stiffness that prevented a dying mother from seeing her son, only to grant a brief few hours for a final farewell under heavy police security.
Ongoing Legal Detention Since November 2024
Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested by Bangladeshi authorities in November 2024 after leading several peaceful rallies demanding equal rights, security, and legal protections for religious minorities in Bangladesh.
His arrest triggered widespread protests across several districts, drawing international attention and statements of concern from global human rights organizations.
Sedition Charges: Following his arrest, authorities framed multiple charges against him, including sedition.
Bail Complications: While media reports indicate that his legal team secured bail in certain individual cases over recent months, additional legal hurdles and pending matters kept him detained behind bars.
Impact on the Family: The prolonged incarceration left his aging family without their primary pillar of support during a severe medical crisis, culminating in his mother’s death.
Humanitarian Concerns and Public Reaction
The tragic death of Sandhya Rani Dhar without seeing her incarcerated son has resonated deeply across social media and international rights forums.
Community leaders and civil society representatives have highlighted the situation as a grim picture of human suffering resulting from political and legal disputes.
According to media reports, humanitarian groups have raised serious questions regarding why temporary humanitarian access or supervised visitation was not granted earlier on medical grounds when it was clear that her health was rapidly deteriorating.
As Chinmoy Krishna Das steps out of prison briefly under strict security to perform the funeral rituals, the tragedy marks a devastating personal loss for the activist’s family and reinforces ongoing international scrutiny surrounding the treatment of minority leaders and political detainees in Bangladesh.
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