Dhaka: Shondha Rani Dhar, the mother of jailed Hindu saint and Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, died on September 10, Thursday as her final wish of seeing the imprisoned son, remains unfulfilled. Chinmoy Krishna Das remains in detention and his temporary release request was repeatedly rejected by the Bangladesh government, despite the family’s persistent appeal amid deteriorating health of Shondha Rani.
Shondha Rani breathed her last at 9:34 AM at Sri Sri Pundarik Dham Ashram in Hathazari, Chattogram, where she had been taken two days earlier in accordance with her wishes. She had been undergoing treatment for nearly two months for cancer and other age-related health complications at Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital. She persistently pleaded to spend her final days at Pundarik Dham and with her son Chinmoy Krishna Das, which now remains unfulfilled.
Her death comes as the family was approaching authorities seeking the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das on parole so that he could meet his critically ill mother. The request, however was not accepted by the government in Dhaka.
Very sad news from Bangladesh.
Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu’s mother has just left her body.
The story behind her death makes this even more heartbreaking.
Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu lost his father when he was just a child. His mother raised him. He was her only child. She watched that… pic.twitter.com/38vdYn0qLz
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) September 10, 2026
Mother’s final wish remains unfulfilled
According to family members, Shondha Rani had been deeply distressed by her son’s prolonged incarceration and repeated unsuccessful bail hearings. She had remained hopeful that a recent bail hearing could lead to Chinmoy’s release, but became increasingly distressed when that did not happen.
Her elder son Ranjan Kumar Dhar said that she had been receiving treatment for cancer and other ailments before being shifted from hospital to Pundarik Dham on September 8, Tuesday.
The family said that she had also suffered a stroke amid the prolonged emotional strain and subsequently developed cardiac complications, as an impact of her son’s detention. Her son Anjan Kumar Dhar confirmed that Chinmoy had been unable to see his mother before her death.
Family sought parole as health deteriorated
The family had approached the Chattogram district magistrate on September 9, Wednesday, seeking Chinmoy’s temporary release so that he could meet his seriously ill mother. Chattogram Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque, however, said there was no legal provision for granting parole specifically to allow a prisoner to visit an ailing relative. He added that release on parole could be considered following the death of a relative.
Following Shondha Rani’s death, the family is expected to submit a fresh request seeking Chinmoy’s release on parole so that he can attend his mother’s last rites. Chattogram District Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle) Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said that the authorities would take necessary action if Chinmoy were ordered to be released on parole.
The family has said her funeral will be held at Pundarik Dham according to her wishes.
An emotional appeal to PM Tarique Rahman from a hospital bed
Before her death, Shondha Rani made an emotional appeal to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, asking to see her son while she was still alive.
Footage carried by Sanatan TV showed the elderly woman speaking from her hospital bed. Visibly frail and suffering from cancer, she addressed the Prime Minister as “Baba” and appealed for an opportunity to meet Chinmoy.
Her plea was simple: to see her son one last time and, if possible, have him beside her during what she feared could be her final days. That wish remained unfulfilled.
Prolonged detention amid escalating targeted attacks on minority Hindu community
Chinmoy Krishna Das, who served as the principal of Pundarik Dham in Hathazari, emerged as a prominent advocate of the rights and safety of Bangladesh Hindu community following the political upheaval of August 2024 and the takeover by the interim government under Muhammad Yunus.
He was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, 2024, in connection with a alleged sedition case filed over allegations relating to the Bangladesh national flag at a rally in Chattogram. A court subsequently denied him bail and sent him to jail.
Chinmoy currently faces eight cases, including the murder case concerning lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, which is being heard by the Chattogram Division Speedy Trial Tribunal. However there exists no concrete evidence for his role in the murder of the lawyer. Despite, the bail is being rejected repeatedly.
He has secured bail in four cases from the High Court but remains incarcerated because of the other pending cases.
His supporters have described the cases against him as politically motivated and targeted attack against the minority Hindu community. His continued detention has remained a major concern among the Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community, who are repeatedly victims of targeted attacks, violence, assault etc.
