The Supreme Court Lawyers' Association has demanded a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).
The demand was made during a press conference held at the Supreme Court Bar auditorium on Thursday afternoon.
In a written statement, acting secretary of the association, Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, condemned the recent killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, allegedly by members of Iskcon, on Tuesday at the Chittagong court premises.
“I strongly condemn and protest the death of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in the attack by members of the radical organization Iskcon. Saiful was a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a regular member of the Supreme Court Bar Association. The untimely death of a fellow lawyer is deeply distressing,” said Mahfuzur Rahman.
He added: “We are deeply concerned that, following the fall of the fascist regime in the aftermath of the July-August mass student movement, individuals and groups aligned with extremist ideologies have engaged in anti-national conspiracies. As part of this, Iskcon members brutally killed Saiful Islam Alif. It is crucial to enact a lawyer protection law to ensure a safe environment for legal professionals.”
The association demanded swift legal action against those responsible for the killing and called on the government to impose an outright ban on Iskcon.
Iskcon is primarily a religious and spiritual organization involved in activities such as temple construction and maintenance, religious sermons, spiritual practices, and charitable initiatives. The organization also conducts yoga and educational programs as part of its cultural outreach.
According to its official website, Iskcon was established in 1966 in New York City by Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Its stated mission is to promote Vedic teachings and spiritual practices globally.
