Advocate Alif murder: Court accepts charges against 39 including Chinmoy Das

A Chattogram court has accepted the chargesheet in the murder case of lawyer Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, implicating 39 individuals including spokesperson for the Sanatani Jagaran Jote Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Among the accused, 20 are already in custody while 19 remain absconding. Arrest warrants have been issued for the fugitives.

Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin passed the order after a hearing on the chargesheet's acceptability today (25 August). The plaintiff, Alif's father Jamal Uddin, was present in court during the session.

Considering the overcrowded courtroom and security concerns, the accused were not produced physically; the hearing was conducted through virtual presence.

The investigation officer recommended exemption for three named accused—Gagan Das, Bishal Das, and Rajkapur Methor—due to lack of evidence. However, 11 new individuals were found to be involved during the investigation, raising the total number of accused from the original 31 to 39.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Md Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury told the court that although the investigation officer sought exemption for another suspect, Sukanto Dutta, on grounds of incomplete identity details, evidence later confirmed his involvement. The court approved the prosecution's request to retain him as an accused.

The list of charge-sheeted accused includes: Chinmoy Krishna Das, Chandan Das Methor, Ripon Das, Rajib Bhattacharya, Shubho Kanti Das, Aman Das, Bunjha, Ranab, Bidhan, Bikash, Romit Prokash Das, Rumit Das, Nayan Das, Omkar Das, Lala Das, Samir, Sohel Das, Shib Kumar, Biglal, Porash, Ganesh, Om Das, Popi, Ajay, Debi Charan, Deb, Joy, Lala Methor, Durlabh Das, Sumit Das, Sonu Das, Saku Das, Bhajan, Ashik, Shahit, Shiba Das, Sukanto Dutta and Dip Das.

The series of legal troubles began on 31 October last year, when Firoz Khan, then general secretary of the BNP's Chandgaon Mohora Ward unit, filed a sedition case against Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and 18 others at Kotwali police station. The complaint accused them of dishonouring the national flag.

Soon after filing the case, Firoz Khan was removed from his post in the BNP.

On 25 November, Chinmoy was arrested in Dhaka's Kalabagan area in connection with the sedition case.

The next day, violence broke out at the Chattogram court premises during a bail hearing. During the clashes, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was beaten and hacked to death.

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

Later, five more cases were filed on charges of attacking police, obstructing government work, assaulting lawyers, and setting off crude bombs.