Ctg lawyers go on strike protesting lawyer's murder; thousands join janaza

Lawyers in Chattogram went on a two-day strike today (27 November) to protest the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif amid clashes among members of law enforcement agencies, lawyers, and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote.

The court activities remained suspended since morning and the lawyers gathered on the court premises to demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators, said witnesses.

Besides, thousands of people joined the namaz-e-janaza of Saiful Islam on the court premises at 10am and at Jamiatul Falah National Mosque ground at 11:30am.

A protest rally was staged where lawyers voiced their outrage and sought justice for their slain colleague.

Land Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Chattogram Metropolitan Ameer Shahjahan Chowdhury, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Russell Ahmed, and Talat Mahmud Rafi, among others, joined the protest rally.

Later, leaders from various political parties and student coordinators described Hindu religious organisation ISKCON as a fundamentalist militant group and demanded an immediate ban on ISKCON's activities in Bangladesh.

They warned of continued protests if their demands are not met.

Lawyer Saiful Islam was killed amid clashes among police, lawyers and supporters of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Tuesday after the court rejected the leader's bail in a sedition case.

Witnesses said unidentified people took him to nearby Jangal Cinema Lane on the ground floor of the court, beat him up and then hacked him to death.

The unrest began when thousands of his followers of Chinmoy gathered on the court premises and obstructed the prison van carrying him, demanding his immediate release.