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Rajib Sharma

Burning Temple In Chittagong, Who Killed the Lawyer in Chattogram?

অনলাইন ডেক্স
হালনাগাদ: বুধবার, ২৭ নভেম্বর, ২০২৪
Burning Temple In Chittagong

The murder of lawyer Saiful Islam in Chattogram is now under investigation, as directed by the Chief Adviser, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who has also instructed the appropriate legal actions.

The police reported that an investigation has been initiated to determine who is responsible for Saiful Islam’s killing.

On Tuesday, a court rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Alliance and the principal of the Pondarik Dham in Hathazari, in a sedition case and ordered his detention. Following this, Chinmoy’s agitated followers lay down around the prison van outside the court premises. Law enforcement attempted to disperse them using tear gas, sound grenades, and baton charges, leading to a clash. During the chaos, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Saiful Islam, alias Alif (35), was hacked to death about 300 meters from the court at the Ranggam Community Center.

Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram Lawyers’ Association, told, “Protesters dragged Saiful Islam, alias Alif, from beneath the chamber and hacked him to death.” The association has called for a strike in Chittagong Court on Wednesday in protest against the killing.

Although Nazim Uddin Chowdhury claimed that protesters killed Saiful Islam approximately 300 meters from the court premises, Swatantra Gouranga Das, a member of the Chattogram ISKCON temple committee, denied any involvement of their group, stating, “We had no weapons.”

At a press conference in Dhaka, advocate Suman Roy, representing the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Alliance, alleged that “Saiful Islam was killed by miscreants who mistook him for a Hindu.”

Chattogram Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Md. Rais Uddin said the identity of the culprits would emerge through investigation. He confirmed that Saiful Islam was killed during the court premises clash but noted, “We are not certain yet who committed the murder. The investigation has started.”

Saiful Islam, hailing from Chunati in Lohagara, was declared dead at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) at around 4:30 PM. Eight others, including Sribas Das, Sharku Das, Choton, Sujit Ghosh, Utpal, and Enamul Haque, were admitted to CMCH with injuries, while 19 received primary treatment at General Hospital.

The incident began around 12:30 PM when Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari’s bail was denied, and he was ordered to be sent to prison. Agitated followers of Chinmoy blocked the prison van, lying around it. Despite efforts by the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and military personnel, the van could not be moved from the court premises. At around 2:45 PM, law enforcement used sound grenades, tear gas, and batons to disperse the protesters. The subsequent clashes involved police, lawyers, and the protesters, during which Saiful Islam was killed.

Swatantra Gouranga Das of the ISKCON temple committee claimed, “We were there to welcome Chinmoy Prabhu, expecting his bail. We had no weapons, and we were also beaten by the police. We want the real perpetrators of the murder to be identified.”

CMCH Emergency Department physician Nibedita Ghosh stated that seven to eight injured individuals were brought in, with one already deceased.

Saiful Islam’s killing, condemned by Jamaat-e-Islami’s leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, was described as a “heinous act.”

The clashes stretched from the court premises to areas like Kotwali Mor, Lal Dighi, and Andarkilla, a kilometer away. Vehicles were vandalized, and panic spread as people fled. Six platoons of BGB were deployed to restore order.

Advocate Suman Roy, at a press conference at Dhakeshwari National Temple, alleged that infiltrators disrupted their peaceful protests. “Our movement is nonviolent,” he said, adding, “Protesters mistook Saiful Islam for a Hindu and attacked him. Now, other Hindu lawyers in Chattogram are also under threat.”

The alliance has demanded Chinmoy’s release by Wednesday, threatening a long march to the prison if the demand is not met.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, previously a prominent organizer of ISKCON, was expelled from the organization and has since led movements under the Bangladesh Sanatani Jagaran Alliance. He was arrested in Dhaka and implicated in a sedition case filed by BNP leader Feroz Khan.

Professor Muhammad Yunus condemned Saiful Islam’s murder, urging a thorough investigation and calling for calm. He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to maintaining communal harmony in Bangladesh.

Burning Temple In Chittagong, Demanding The Banning Of ISKCON

Following the lawyer’s murder, Islamic organizations and ordinary Muslims across the country began demanding the banning of ISKCON from Tuesday evening. They raised this demand in every division of the country, including Chattogram, Dhaka, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Cox’s Bazar, accusing ISKCON of disrupting Bangladesh’s secular harmony. They warned that ISKCON must be banned within the next 24 hours, or they would launch a severe protest.

Meanwhile, in the Hathari Goli Kali Temple area of Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram, a temple was vandalized, and at the same time, a fire broke out at the Sri Mansa Temple on Patharghata Bandel Road in the same area. Hindus claimed that Muslims set the fire during a procession. Local Muslims, however, denied any involvement, stating they were not responsible for the fires.


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