Murder of Saiful Islam Alif
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 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (November 2024) |
| Murder of Saiful Islam Alif | |
|---|---|
| Location | Chattogram Court Building, Kotwali, Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Coordinates | 22°20′6″N 91°50′4″E / 22.33500°N 91.83444°E |
| Date | November 26, 2024 c. 01:19 pm (UTC+6) |
| Victim | Saiful Islam Alif |
| Perpetrators | Supporters of Chinmoy Krishna Das |
| Assailants | Members of ISKCON (alleged) |
On 26 November 2024, during a protest demanding the release of a Bangladeshi Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who had been arrested on sedition charges, Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer at the Chittagong Court, was hacked with sharp weapons and killed by some individual in the violence. Reports indicate that the violence involved individuals identified as followers of Das and alleged supporters of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). However, ISKCON Bangladesh has denied any involvement in the incident.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background
[edit]On 25 November 2024, Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on charges of sedition. The next day, Das was presented before the Chittagong Court where he was denied bail and was ordered to sent to jail. Following the court hearing, his followers including alleged members of ISKCON, started a protest in the vicinity of the court, demanding his release. They also prevented him from being taken to jail by blocking the way of the police van. To control the crowd, law enforcements including police started baton charge, throwing tear gas and sound grenades. Following which, the agitators vandalised cars, motorcycles and a lawyer's chamber on the ground floor of the court building. In addition, the glass of the court's central mosque was broken due to the agitators throwing stones.[6][7][8] During the violence, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed by the assailants.
Victim
[edit]Saiful Islam Alif (Bengali: সাইফুল ইসলাম আলিফ) was a resident of the Chunati area in Lohagara Upazila, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He began his legal career in 2018, practicing law in Chittagong. He was later admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 2023.
Several also lawyers confirmed that Alif was politically affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He was a member of the BNP's legal aid committee in Lohagara Upazila and participated in the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum, a pro-BNP law firm. His name was listed as a voter within the organisation as well. Also, Alif was claimed to be a member of the BNP-Jamaat-backed lawyers' panel. Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman claimed that Alif was also a member of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.[6][9]
Murder
[edit]Amidst the unrest, Alif was reportedly dragged into the nearby Rangam Convention Hall by some of the protestors near the Chittagong District Court, where he was subjected to a severe physical assault. Witness accounts and a video posted on social media, suggest that he was beaten and hacked, leading to critical injuries.[2]
Local witnesses eventually rescued him and rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 4:00 PM BST citing blunt force trauma. His murder happened amidst a broader atmosphere of disorder, with the attackers leveraging the protests to carry out the targeted assault. Several other people, including bystanders and journalists, were injured during the clashes.[6]
Funeral and bural
[edit]Alif was buried at his village Chunti after funeral prayers at Chittagong Cout area and Jamiatul Falah Mosque at Chittagong City and two funeral prayers at Lohagara Upazila.[10] Apart from this, absentee funeral prayers were held in several places around the country, including Dhaka University.[11][12][13]
Reactions
[edit]Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder and assured legal action to be taken.[14] In addition, various political parties and civil society members issued statements condemning the killing.[15][16][17]
Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman also condemned the killing claiming him to be a party member.[9]
After Alif's funeral, Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, addressed the press, calling for a ban on ISKCON.[18]
Ruhul Quddus Kajal, the former secretary of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association, demanded justice for those responsible in a social media post.[6]
In a news conference on 28 November, ISKCON denied any kind of involvement in the murder of Alif.[19]
Prosecution
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2024) |
Disinformation in media
[edit]According to a report published by BBC Bangla, Alif was mistakenly reported as an assistant public prosecutor in several media.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lawyer killed in attack by Chinmoy's supporters". Jago News 24. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh steps up security, arrests six for lawyer's killing amid protests". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "ইসকন সমর্থকদের হাতে খুন আলিফ চিরনিদ্রায় শায়িত". Jugantor. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে ইসকন সমর্থকদের হামলায় আইনজীবীর মৃত্যু". The Daily Campus. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে মসজিদে ইসকন সমর্থকদের হামলা-ভাঙচুর". Daily Inqilab. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর পরিচয় সম্পর্কে যা জানা যাচ্ছে". BBC Bangla. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস". Desh Rupantar. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "আইনজীবী হত্যা: ভিডিও দেখে ৬ জন আটক". bdnews24. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b "আলিফকে দলীয় কর্মী দাবি করে জামায়াত আমিরের নিন্দা" (in Bengali). Jagonews24. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল". Daily Janakantha. 2024-11-27.
- ^ "চার দফা জানাজা শেষে চিরশায়িত অ্যাডভোকেট সাইফুল". Dhaka Post. 27 November 2024.
- ^ "টিএসসিতে আইনজীবী সাইফুল ইসলামের গায়েবানা জানাজা অনুষ্ঠিত". Jamuna Television. 2024-11-27.
- ^ "আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল". Samakal. 2024-11-27.
- ^ "আইনজীবী আলিফ হত্যায় প্রধান উপদেষ্টার নিন্দা". Daily Ittefaq. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জামায়াতের". Banglanews24. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যায় খেলাফত মজলিসের নিন্দা". Kalbela. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা জানিয়ে সিপিবির বিবৃতি". Jago News 24. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি সারজিস আলমের". bdnews24. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "চিন্ময়ের কার্যক্রমে ইসকন দায়ী নয়". Dhaka Post. 28 November 2024.