Chattogram lawyers on Sunday in the port city staged demonstrations demanding inclusion of arrested Hindu community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das’ name as the prime accused in the murder case filed over the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
They also expressed anger at the fact that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, formerly a leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in short ISKCON, was not even named in the case statement.
Assistant public prosecutor in Chattogram Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death near Chattogram Court Building area on November 26 during clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and followers of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Chinmoy Krishna’s bail hearing in a sedition case is scheduled for tomorrow amid protests in Chattogram and elsewhere across the country.
Addressing a condolence rally in front of Sonali Bank on the court premises, Chattogram District Bar Association president Nazim Uddin Chowdhury said that Chinmoy Das should have been named as an accused in all the related cases, including the murder case filed over the lawyer killing, and the one filed over the November 26 clash on a Chattogram court premises.
‘We firmly believe Chinmoy Das should be the prime accused in all these cases. The lawyer community will not tolerate his exclusion from cases,’ said Nazim, adding that there was clear evidence in video footage and eyewitness accounts.
They also demanded prompt investigation into the murder case and submission of charge sheet at the earliest.
‘We will continue our protest till justice for advocate Saiful’s murder is delivered,’ he said.
Earlier in the day, lawyers, wearing black badges, staged a protest march that started from in front of the Sonali Bank on the court premises, passed through Laldighi and the Hawkers Market, and concluded in front of Doel Bhaban.
The court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam is scheduled to hear Chinmoy’s bail petition on Tuesday as the hearings on Wednesday and Thursday were not held amid boycott by lawyers, said Monir Hossen Sarker, bench assistant of the court.
Earlier, on November 26, the Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Chattogram rejected Chinmoy’s bail in a sedition case and ordered him to be sent to jail.
Five cases were filed so far over Saiful Islam Alif’s killing near court premises and vandalism and other offences.
The police have filed three of the cases and victim families filed the rest two, while 38 people, including nine in connection with Saiful killing, have been arrested.
Four days after the lawyer had been hacked to death, victim’s father Jamal Uddin filed a murder case with the Kotwali police against 31 named and 10–15 unidentified people on Saturday.
Saiful’s elder brother Khane Alam filed another case with the same police over attacks and vandalism perpetrated on a Chattogram court premises against 116 named individuals and 400–500 unnamed people.
New Age