In protest of the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, the Chittagong District Bar Association is observing a strike for the second day.
Since Thursday morning, the court proceedings have been halted due to the absence of lawyers. Along with this, the lawyers have lowered the association’s flag to half-mast and are wearing black badges.
Mohammad Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, the president of the Chittagong District Bar Association, said that in accordance with the association’s decision, lawyers are continuing their strike for the second day in protest of Saiful Islam's murder. As a result, court activities have been suspended.
Earlier, on Wednesday (27 November), a special notice signed by Mohammad Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, the president, and Ashraf Hossain Chowdhury Rajjak, the general secretary of the Chittagong District Bar Association, announced six resolutions, including the strike.
The notice stated that on 26 November, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was brutally murdered while performing his duties by a group from Iskcon. In protest of this murder, the association held an emergency meeting, and the following resolutions were adopted:
The resolutions are as follows:
- Lowering the association’s flag to half-mast and wearing black badges
- A strike in all courts in Chittagong
- A prayer meeting after Zuhr prayers on Thursday for the salvation of lawyer Saiful’s soul,
- Cancellation of the informal gathering during the recess on the same day,A condolence procession by the lawyers on December 1
- Suspension of the association’s annual indoor games
Namaz-e-janaza
Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was laid to rest following his final namaz-e-janaza prayers on Wednesday.
The prayer took place after Asr at the mosque grounds adjacent to Chunati Faranga Latapir Shrine in Lohagara upazila, Chittagong. He was later buried in the family graveyard.
Thousands of people, including political leaders and members of the public, attended the funeral.
Murder
On Tuesday, Saiful Islam was brutally murdered during clashes at the Chittagong court premises.
The violence erupted after the bail denial of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sommilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote and a former Iskcon leader.
Iskcon supporters reportedly clashed with law enforcement, during which Saiful was abducted and killed.
Lawyers have blamed Iskcon followers for the incident.
Saiful Islam, a resident of Chunati, Lohagara, became a member of the district bar association in 2018 and later registered as a High Court lawyer.
