Lawyers in Dhaka staged a protest on Tuesday evening, demanding justice for Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer killed during clashes between police and protesters at the Chittagong court premises earlier in the day.
The protest, which began around 6:30pm in the Old Dhaka Judge Court area, was led by Dhaka Bar Association President Advocate Khorshed Alam Mia and General Secretary Advocate Syed Nazrul Islam.
Over 200 lawyers participated, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum for the arrest of those responsible. They warned of nationwide disruptions to courts and other legal operations if their demands were not met.
During the protest, Advocate Syed Nazrul Islam said: “Identified assailants have murdered one of our own. They must be brought to justice within 24 hours. If not, we will take necessary actions as a united body, and all courts across the country will cease operations.”
The incident in Chittagong occurred when protesters, demanding the release of Chinnmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, blocked a police prison van on the court premises for nearly three hours. Police attempted to disperse the demonstrators with baton charges, sparking clashes.
Amid the chaos, Saiful Islam Alif, sustained severe injuries. Colleagues rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.
The legal community has condemned the incident, calling for immediate action against those responsible.
They have pledged to intensify protests if justice is not served promptly.
