The family of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was murdered near the court premises in Chittagong city, has filed a case naming 31 individuals and 10-15 unidentified others.
Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, lodged the case at Kotwali police station at 12:05am on Saturday, three days after the incident, said CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz.
The named accused include Chandan, Aman Das, Shuvo Kanti Das, Bunja, Ranab, Bidhan, Bikash, Ramit, Rumit Das, Nayan Das, Gagan Das, Vishal Das, Omkar Das, Vishal, Rajkapur, Lala, Samir, Sohel Das, Shiv Kumar, Biglal, Parash, Ganesh, Om Das, Poppy, Ajay, Devi Charan, Dev, Joy, Durlav Das, Rajib Bhattacharya, and others, all reportedly residents of the Bandel Road Sebak Colony under the city's Kotwali police station.
The case was filed under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, and 34 of the Penal Code, 1860, according to case details.
In a separate case, Khan Alam, the elder brother of Saiful Islam Alif, accused 115 individuals and 400-500 unidentified people of attacking and vandalizing court premises.
The case statement alleges that on November 26, around 11am, the court rejected the bail petition of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, in a sedition case, ordering his imprisonment.
Following the order, lawyers affiliated with Iskcon, who were supporting the accused, reportedly became agitated, made offensive remarks targeting the court, and caused chaos within the premises.
The statement further claims that followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das obstructed on-duty police officers by standing in front of the prison van. When law enforcement attempted to disperse them, the agitators allegedly vandalized a mosque, as well as lawyers’ and government vehicles, before leaving the court premises.
Later that day, around 4:30pm, the accused allegedly targeted Alif due to his beard, attacking him with sharp weapons and inflicting fatal injuries. The attackers reportedly chanted slogans in support of the expelled Iskcon leader during the assault.
Alif’s father also alleged that after speaking with witnesses and his son’s colleagues, he discovered that the murder was carried out with direct and indirect instigation from leaders and activists associated with the Chhatra League, Jubo League, Awami League, and other affiliated organizations.