Amid protests in Bangladesh over the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a lawyer was killed on Tuesday. Clashes erupted between security personnel and protesters in several parts of Bangladesh after bail was denied to Das by the Bangladesh court.
The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association.
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Around six others were injured in the clash and were rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
According to Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers’ Association, the protesters dragged the lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.
Police used sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges to disperse the protesters.
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Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali said that they have launched an investigation into the death of the lawyer.
The leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, Krishna Das, was arrested on sedition charges.
After reports of arrest, protests broke out in different districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, Khulna, Dinajpur and Cox’s Bazar.
Das was also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which recently expelled him.
Bangladesh responds to India’s ‘concern’
While reacting to India’s concerns over the arrest of the Hindu priest, Bangladesh said that the monk’s arrest had been “misconstrued by certain quarters”.
“The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of Friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries,” Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry said India’s statement didn’t “reflect the harmony” that existed between people of all faiths and commitment in Bangladesh.
“Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh,” it added.
Bangladesh’s judiciary was “fully independent” and the government didn’t interfere in the judiciary’s work. “The matter under question is at present being dealt with by the court of law,” it said.
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