Staff Reporter :
In a shocking incident, Saiful Islam, an Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) in Chattogram, was brutally hacked to death during violent clashes on Tuesday afternoon.
The violence erupted following the denial of bail to former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, in a sedition case.
Saiful Islam, aged 35, was the son of Jamal Uddin and hailed from Chunati in Lohagara.
According to Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of the Chattogram Lawyers’ Association, Saiful was abducted from the court premises and attacked with sharp weapons by followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das. He was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:30 PM.
In addition to Saiful’s death, at least eight others sustained serious injuries and were admitted to CMCH. Among the injured are Shribas Das, Sharku Das, Choton, Sujit Ghosh, Utpal, and Enamul Haque, while one critically injured individual remains unidentified. Another 19 individuals received primary treatment at General Hospital.
Eyewitness Md. Hasan recounted, “Amidst the chaos, protesters attacked Saiful Islam with sharp weapons. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.”
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder of the lawyer. He ordered an investigation into the killing and appropriate legal action, according to Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary. Professor Yunus urged everyone to remain calm and avoid engaging in any disruptive activities.
Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that both internal and foreign conspiracies could have influenced the ISKCON issue.
Speaking at a meeting on overall law and order at the Sylhet Circuit House, the adviser called for strict action to address this issue.
Earlier that day, Chinmoy Krishna Das was sent to jail by the Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Chattogram, which rejected his bail application in a sedition case. However, the court granted him division facilities in jail, allowing provisions consistent with his religious beliefs.
Chinmoy was arrested on Monday evening near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The sedition case, filed on 31 October, alleges that he disrespected Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally on 25 October.
The arrest has drawn sharp reactions from India, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressing “deep concern” and urging Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has also called for Chinmoy’s unconditional release. Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader in West Bengal, announced protests at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and threatened to block the Bangladesh-India border if Chinmoy is not released.
Regarding India’s concern over an internal issue of Bangladesh, Professor Amena Mohsin, former professor at the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, told The New Nation on Tuesday, “If India protests when we discuss their internal matters, then we too must raise concerns about similar issues within our own country.”
She added that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes India is attempting to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, it should formally lodge a protest.
Amid growing tensions, ten platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Dhaka and Chattogram to maintain public order. Four platoons of BGB were stationed in Shahbagh, Matshaya Bhaban, and Hotel Intercontinental areas in Dhaka and in Chattogram, six platoons were deployed to prevent further violence.
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, Liakat Ali, stated, “One person has died, but we are still investigating the circumstances of the death.”
Tensions have been exacerbated by recent blockade programmes, demonstrations, and clashes, causing significant disruption and hardship for residents in Dhaka and other cities.
