Human chain demands justice for slain lawyer Saiful

A human chain protest in Chattogram today demanded the immediate arrest and trial of the killers of slain lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, as well as the punishment of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, former spokesperson of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).

The protest also called for the transfer of Saiful's murder case to a speedy trial tribunal.

The event was held in front of the Chittagong Press Club, organised by the Saiful Islam Alif Memorial Council. 

Saiful, an assistant public prosecutor at Chattogram Judge Court, was hacked to death during the unrest centring rejection of bail of Chinmoy on 26 November.

Speakers at the protest pointed out that Chinmoy had incited the murder of Saiful, claiming that while Chinmoy was being transferred from the courtroom to jail, he had made provocative statements to his supporters from the prison van. 

These inflammatory remarks led to the brutal murder of Saiful by armed assailants who later attacked a mosque, vandalised vehicles, and injured several people, said the speakers. 

The protestors further said the perpetrators of the incident are still roaming freely, unpunished and vowed to continue their movement until the killers of Saiful were arrested and given exemplary punishment.

Highlighting the slow progress of the trial process, they noted that thousands of lawyers in Bangladesh are demanding that the Alif murder case be conducted under the Speedy Trial Act.

The participants in the protest, which included lawyers, emphasised the need for swift and fair justice in the case to uphold the dignity of the legal profession and ensure accountability for the murder.