Dhaka, January 19 – In a significant development, a Bangladeshi court has formally framed charges against prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and 38 others in the brutal murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. The incident, which unfolded outside the Chittagong court premises in November 2024, has heightened tensions surrounding minority rights in the country.
The Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, presided over by Judge Mohammad Jahidul Haq, meticulously reviewed arguments from both prosecution and defense before indicting the accused. Rehanul Wazed Chowdhury, the complainant’s lawyer and assistant public prosecutor, confirmed to The Daily Star that charges under Section 302 (murder) and 109 (abetment) of the IPC were pressed against Chinmoy, with additional counts against 22 others.
Of the 39 named suspects, 23 are currently in custody, while 16 remain at large, prompting concerns over potential disruptions. Security was ramped up dramatically for Chinmoy’s court appearance, with nearly 900 personnel, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and army members, deployed around the court complex to prevent any unrest.
During the hearing, Chinmoy, whose lawyers were absent, vociferously denied any involvement in Alif’s killing and demanded a thorough investigation. Reports indicate the lawyer was slain amid violent clashes on November 26, 2024, shortly after the court rejected Chinmoy’s bail plea in a sedition case.
Chinmoy’s arrest on November 25 in Dhaka and subsequent jailing after bail denial sparked widespread protests from Bangladesh’s Hindu community. This case emerges against a backdrop of escalating attacks on Hindus since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the rise of Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration.
India has repeatedly voiced alarm, accusing the interim regime of orchestrating systematic persecution of Hindu minorities. As the trial progresses, it underscores the fragile state of communal harmony in Bangladesh, with implications for regional stability.