A group of Dhaka University (DU) students have held a protest march on the campus over the killing of a lawyer in Chittagong court premises.
The students chanted anti-ISCKON slogans on Tuesday night and held a symbolic funeral prayer (Gayebana Janaza).
The demonstration took place on Tuesday around 9pm in the TSC area of the university.
Earlier, during a clash between protesters demanding the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the "Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha," and the police on the court premises, state lawyer Saiful Islam was killed.
The clashes began Tuesday afternoon in the Laldighi area under Kotwali police station after a Chittagong court ordered sending Chinmoy Krishna Das to jail.
During the proceedings, Chinmoy’s defense team submitted a bail application. However, after a hearing, the court rejected the plea and ordered his immediate transfer to jail. The court also directed the jail authorities to provide him with divisional facilities and allow him to adhere to his religious practices, as requested by his lawyers.
Defense counsel Swarup Kanti Nath commented: “During the bail hearing, we argued that the case is baseless and conspiratorial. Chinmoy Krishna has not engaged in any anti-state activities. Despite this, the court denied bail but instructed the jail authorities to ensure divisional status for him.”
He added, “We also requested permission for Chinmoy to follow his dietary and religious practices while in jail, and the court approved this, instructing the prison authorities accordingly.”
The bail rejection led to unrest outside the courtroom, where a large crowd, including lawyers and supporters, gathered, chanting slogans in favor of Chinmoy Krishna. Tensions escalated further when news of the court’s decision spread.
As he was being taken away in a police van, Chinmoy Krishna addressed the crowd through a hand microphone, urging them to remain calm and refrain from destabilizing actions.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz stated that Chinmoy had been transported to Chittagong by road at night. He is facing a sedition case filed at Kotwali police station and was arrested in connection with this case.
The sedition charges stem from a public rally organized by the Sanatani Jagran Jote at Chittagong's Laldighi Maidan on October 25. The case, filed on October 30, named Chinmoy Krishna and 19 others as accused.
On Monday afternoon, Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.