A segment of lawyers has expressed dissatisfaction and anger over Chinmoy Krishna, a prominent spokesperson for the Hindu Gonojagoron Mancha, not being named as an accused in two cases filed by the family of Alif, who was murdered, as well as in five other cases, including obstruction of police duties. According to the complaints, a total of 2,225 individuals were charged, with 228 names explicitly mentioned.
In protest, the lawyers organized a mourning rally on Sunday afternoon at the Chittagong court premises. Wearing black badges, they demanded justice for Alif’s murder. The rally began in front of the Sonali Bank office at the court premises, passed through Laldighi and the Hawkers’ Market, and concluded at the Doel Building in the court area. Their slogans included, “No place for ISKCON in our Golden Bengal” and “ISKCON, you are extremists, accomplices of Delhi.”
Following the rally, anger was expressed during a meeting. Advocate Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, the president of the Bar Association, voiced his frustration in an exclusive conversation with reporter.
“The court operates by its own rules. Larger criminals than Chinmoy have been brought to trial, but we have not seen such unprecedented, chaotic incidents before. The violence, attacks, and vandalism revolved around Chinmoy. How can cases excluding him as an accused be deemed legitimate? The investigation is ongoing, and there is still time. Our demand is that Chinmoy and others involved be held accountable swiftly,” he said.
He accused the CMP police of aiding the unrest and elaborated, “From November 26, when Chinmoy was brought to court, there was significant police cooperation. Usually, no one is allowed near accused individuals brought to court, but Chinmoy was allowed to make provocative statements using a CMP police microphone. This could have been avoided with neutral behavior from the police. After Chinmoy announced the continuation of the movement, tension and violence erupted across the court premises. Thus, he must be named the main accused.”
He further added, “The investigation is ongoing, and we lawyers will not accept this case unless the true criminals, including Chinmoy, are made the main accused. There is ample evidence, including video footage and photographs, of the incident. No one is above the law. We urge the CMP to investigate and take action against all involved and to submit the charge sheet swiftly. Those who are yet to be arrested must be apprehended.”
In Context, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari (38), a spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagoron Mancha, was previously charged with sedition for allegedly dishonoring the national flag at the Independence Monument near New Market in Chattogram. The sedition case was filed by Firoz Khan, a former BNP leader and general secretary of the 5th Ward of BNP Mohra in Chandgaon. On November 25, Chinmoy was arrested near Shahjalal Airport in Dhaka by the DMP’s Detective Branch.
The next day, Chinmoy was presented in Chattogram court, where his Hindu supporters staged protests, detaining his prison van for nearly two and a half hours. Police resorted to baton charges and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, leading to multiple clashes involving police, BGB, common citizens, BNP-Jamaat-aligned lawyers, and Hindu protesters. The violence eventually spread outside the court premises.
During the incident, police, some members of the general public, and a segment of lawyers entered the Patharghata Sevak Colony. Later, in the area near Rangam Cinema Hall (now Rangam Convention Center), lawyers and civilians discovered lawyer Alif in a severely injured and bloodied state. He was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (Chamek) in a CNG-powered taxi, where attending doctors declared him dead.
In protest, the Chattogram Bar Association announced a work stoppage that night.
The following day, Tuesday, a hearing was scheduled at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, presided over by Md. Saiful Islam, for the bail application of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Coalition. However, due to the work stoppage, the hearing could not take place. Subsequently, CMP filed three cases related to the clashes, vandalism, and obstruction of police duties. These cases named 79 individuals and listed 1,500 unidentified persons as accused. Police arrested 27 individuals, most of whom were residents of the Bundil Sevak Colony in the Kotwali area of the city. Among them, seven were arrested on charges of involvement in the lawyer’s murder. These individuals were identified as Rumit Das, Sumit Das, Gagan Das, Nayan Das, Bishal Das, Aman Das, and Monu Methor.
In addition, police arrested four others: two ISKCON members from Bakalia Kalamiya Bazar and two others, bringing the total number of detainees to 31.
Later, on Friday night, two separate cases were filed in connection with Alif’s murder by his brother and father. These cases identified 31 and 116 individuals, respectively, while naming a total of 647 accused, including unidentified persons.
Despite naming 226 individuals in five cases related to the Chinmoy incident, bringing the total number of accused to 2,225, Chinmoy was not listed as an accused in any of them. This omission has fueled resentment among BNP-Jamaat-aligned lawyers.
