A lawyer was brutally hacked to death during a violent clash between law enforcement agencies and supporters of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das at his bail hearing in Chattogram Court on Tuesday. Soon after, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder of a lawyer in the port city of Chattogram. He has ordered an investigation into the killing and appropriate legal course.
Yunus has urged people to keep calm and stay away from participating in any Muntoward activities. He has also ordered app law enforcement agencies to step up security in the port city, including in all the vulnerable neighbourhoods.
#Bangladesh#ChiefAdviserpic.twitter.com/t0kzH4Lcs2
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) November 26, 2024
According to reports, the deceased has been identified as Saiful Islam, also known as Alif, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor (APP). Protesters allegedly dragged Islam out of his chamber and brutally hacked him to death. The violence broke out after the court ordered Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das to be sent to jail.
State-lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed today during protests at CTG court premises when supporters of former @iskcon monk Chinmoy Krishna Das blocked the prison van carrying him to jail. Meanwhile, police lob sound grenades to disperse them. 7-8 are hospitalized. #ISKCONpic.twitter.com/Rm295FuBye
— Mehedi Hasan Marof (@MehediMarof) November 26, 2024
Notably, clashes erupted between police and supporters of arrested Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das outside a court in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on Tuesday. Hundreds of protestors, largely believed to be from the Hindu community, gathered outside the court premises to protest against the arrest of the former ISKCON leader in a sedition case. The unrest began around noon after the court denied bail to Das, who is also the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha.
As reported by Bangladeshi media, the protesters obstructed the prison van carrying the priest. After nearly three hours of deadlock, violence broke out outside the court, with police firing teargas shells, grenades, and charging batons at the protesters.
Das, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, was arrested at a Dhaka airport on Monday afternoon. He was produced before the Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court earlier in the day, which denied him bail.