A lawyer was killed in a clash between police and followers of former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari at the Chattogram court premises on Tuesday. The deceased, Advocate Saiful Islam, was an Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
The clash erupted after Das, who was arrested on Monday at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport on charges of sedition, was denied bail and police attempted to transport him to jail. His followers blocked the prison van for nearly three hours, leading to a confrontation with police.
During the clash, Das’s supporters vandalized several structures in the court area, including a mosque. Police responded by using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Several people were injured in the ensuing melee, including Advocate Islam, who was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where he was declared dead.
CMCH Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin confirmed the death, stating that 6-7 people were brought to the hospital with injuries, one of whom was dead on arrival.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Fazlul Kader Chowdhury said the situation remains tense. Security has been heightened in the court area following the incident.
