A Chittagong court has ordered that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, be shown arrested in connection with the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin issued the order on Monday (May 5) following a virtual hearing.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Md Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury said the investigation officer had sought the order in relation to the case filed with Kotwali Police Station.

Chinmoy, currently in jail in a separate sedition case, is also facing requests to be shown arrested in three other cases, including charges of obstructing police work and attacking lawyers and trial seekers. A virtual hearing on those cases is scheduled for Tuesday (May 6).

On November 26, after Chinmoy’s bail was rejected in the sedition case, he was being taken to a prison van when his followers clashed with police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel outside the Chittagong court. 

Police used batons and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was beaten and hacked to death during the violence near the Rangam Community Hall.

Following the incident, Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case naming 31 individuals. 

Five additional cases were later filed over the clashes, which included charges of attacking police, obstructing official duties, assaulting lawyers and trial seekers, and detonating explosives.

SMS/