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Murder of Saiful Islam Alif

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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]

Murder of Saiful Islam Alif
LocationChattogram Court Building, Kotwali, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Coordinates22°20′6″N 91°50′4″E / 22.33500°N 91.83444°E / 22.33500; 91.83444
Date26 November 2024 (2024-11-26)
c. 01:19 pm (UTC+6)
Attack type
Organised attack and assault with sharp weapons
WeaponsSticks, Sharp weapons
VictimSaiful Islam Alif
PerpetratorsSupporters of Chinmoy Krishna Das
AssailantsMembers of ISKCON (alleged)

Background

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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.[6] The next day, Das was presented before the Chittagong Court where he was denied bail and was ordered to sent to jail.[7] 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. After the protesters threw bricks at the police, the law enforcements started baton charge, throwing tear gas and sound grenades.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12] During the violence, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed by the assailants.

Saiful Islam Alif

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Saiful Islam Alif (Bengali: সাইফুল ইসলাম আলিফ) was a resident of the Chunati area in Lohagara Upazila, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He passed Dakhil from Adhunagar Islamia Kamil Madrasa and HSC from Chittagong College. He passed LLB and LLM from International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC).[13] 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. However, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman claimed that Alif was a member of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.[9][14]

Murder

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Amidst the unrest, Alif was reportedly dragged into the nearby Rangam Convention Hall by some of the protesters near the 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.[15]

Local witnesses eventually rescued him and rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 4:00 p.m. 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.[9]

Alif was buried at his village Chunati after funeral prayers at Chittagong Court compound and Jamiatul Falah Mosque at Chittagong City and two funeral prayers at Lohagara Upazila.[16] Apart from this, absentee funeral prayers were held in several places around the country, including Dhaka University.[17][18][19]

Reactions

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Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder and assured legal action to be taken.[20] In addition, various political parties and civil society members issued statements condemning the killing.[21][22][23] Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman condemned the killing, claiming him to be a party member.[14]

After Alif's funeral, Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, addressed the press, calling for a ban on ISKCON.[24]

In addition, various organisations, including Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Ulama Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir and Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association demanded the arrest of those involved in the murder and the banning of ISKCON.[25][26][27][28][29][30]

Chittagong District Bar Association observed a strike on 27 and 28 November to protest the murder of Saiful Islam Alif.[9]

In a news conference on 28 November, ISKCON denied any kind of involvement in the murder of Alif.[31]

Prosecution

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A video footage of Alif's killing was widely circulated on social media. Following an analysis of the footage, police identified and arrested seven individuals in connection with the incident.[32][2] BGC Trust University authority expelled a law student over the incident.[33]

Misinformation in media

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See also: Non-cooperation movement (2024) § Disinformation by Indian media

Incorrect and false information was spread in several media outlets regarding the murder of lawyer Alif. Several Indian media outlets, including FirstPost, The Economic Times, Republic World and OpIndia, published fabricated reports claiming that the Alif was Chinmoy Das' lawyer.[34] Indian media outlets also claimed that Alif was shot dead by police. The Chief Adviser's press wing said that the claim spread in the Indian media is being spread with false and malicious intentions.[35] The news agency Reuters also published a news report written by journalist Ruma Paul, quoting Chittagong Metropolitan Police Deputy Police Commissioner Liaquat Ali Khan, claiming that lawyer Alif was Das' lawyer. However, the government's press wing said that Reuters or any journalist had not taken any statement from Liaquat Ali Khan and that the Chittagong Metropolitan Police protested, saying that Reuters' report was not objective. Later, Reuters revised its report.[36][37]

According to a report published by BBC Bangla, Alif was mistakenly reported as an assistant public prosecutor in several media.[9][38][34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lawyer killed in attack by Chinmoy's supporters". Jago News 24. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Bangladesh steps up security, arrests six for lawyer's killing amid protests". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  3. ^ "ইসকন সমর্থকদের হাতে খুন আলিফ চিরনিদ্রায় শায়িত" (in Bengali). Jugantor. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  4. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে ইসকন সমর্থকদের হামলায় আইনজীবীর মৃত্যু" (in Bengali). The Daily Campus. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে মসজিদে ইসকন সমর্থকদের হামলা-ভাঙচুর" (in Bengali). Daily Inqilab. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Ex-ISKCON leader arrested at HSIA". The Daily Star. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  7. ^ "Chinmoy Krishna's bail rejected, sent to jail". Prothomalo. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  8. ^ "One killed in Bangladesh as Hindu protesters clash with police". Reuters. 27 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e "চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর পরিচয় সম্পর্কে যা জানা যাচ্ছে". BBC Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  10. ^ "কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস". Desh Rupantar (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  11. ^ "আইনজীবী হত্যা: ভিডিও দেখে ৬ জন আটক". bdnews24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Eight more arrested, protests continue". Daily Sun. November 2024.
  13. ^ "ইসকন সমর্থকদের হাতে খুন আলিফ চিরনিদ্রায় শায়িত". Jugantor (in Bengali). 27 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  14. ^ a b "আলিফকে দলীয় কর্মী দাবি করে জামায়াত আমিরের নিন্দা" (in Bengali). Jagonews24. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  15. ^ "6 people, identified through video footage, detained over Ctg lawyer Alif's murder: CAO". The Business Standard. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  16. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল". Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). 2024-11-27.
  17. ^ "চার দফা জানাজা শেষে চিরশায়িত অ্যাডভোকেট সাইফুল" (in Bengali). Dhaka Post. 27 November 2024.
  18. ^ "টিএসসিতে আইনজীবী সাইফুল ইসলামের গায়েবানা জানাজা অনুষ্ঠিত". Jamuna Television (in Bengali). 2024-11-27.
  19. ^ "আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল". Samakal (in Bengali). 2024-11-27.
  20. ^ "আইনজীবী আলিফ হত্যায় প্রধান উপদেষ্টার নিন্দা". Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  21. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জামায়াতের". Banglanews24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  22. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যায় খেলাফত মজলিসের নিন্দা". Kalbela (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  23. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা জানিয়ে সিপিবির বিবৃতি". Jago News 24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  24. ^ "ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি সারজিস আলমের". bdnews24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  25. ^ "আইনজীবী হত্যার বিচার ও ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি জাতীয়তাবাদী আইনজীবী ফোরামের". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  26. ^ "এবার খেলাফত মজলিসের সমাবেশে ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি". Kalbela (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  27. ^ "ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবিতে উত্তরায় উলামা পরিষদের বিক্ষোভ". Somoy News (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  28. ^ "ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি জানালো হেফাজতে ইসলাম". Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  29. ^ "রংপুরে ছাত্রশিবিরের বিক্ষোভ, ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  30. ^ "ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি সুপ্রিম কোর্ট বারের". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  31. ^ "চিন্ময়ের কার্যক্রমে ইসকন দায়ী নয়" (in Bengali). Dhaka Post. 28 November 2024.
  32. ^ "পুলিশের তিন মামলা, ফুটেজ দেখে হত্যায় জড়িত সাতজন শনাক্ত" (in Bengali). Prothom Alo. 28 November 2024.
  33. ^ "সাইফুলকে যেভাবে হত্যা করা হয়, ৭ জন শনাক্ত". Ajker Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Fact Check: Lawyer Killed In Bangladesh Was Not Defending Arrested Former ISKCON Priest". NDTV.com. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  35. ^ "নিহত সাইফুলকে চিন্ময় দাসের আইনজীবী দাবি করে ভারতীয় সংবাদমাধ্যমে মিথ্যাচার". Banglanews24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  36. ^ "আইনজীবী হত্যার নিউজে পুলিশের বক্তব্য নেয়নি রয়টার্স : সিএমপি". Bangla Outlook (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  37. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার ঘটনায় রয়টার্সের তথ্য সরকার যেভাবে ভুল প্রমাণ করল". The Business Standard (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  38. ^ "চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীকে নিয়ে দেশি-বিদেশী গণমাধ্যমে ভুল দাবি". Dismissallab (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
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