Who are the individuals involved in the attack on the lawyer in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh?

Tuhin sarwar: Three individuals have been identified as suspects in the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram on Tuesday (26 November), according to. These individuals were identified through the analysis of photos and videos taken during a chaotic protest, which erupted following the denial of bail and subsequent imprisonment of former Iskcon Bangladesh leader, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, by a Chattogram court. During the protest, lawyer Alif was brutally hacked to death.

The newspaper published a photo on 27 November showing the three individuals among others at the scene where Alif was attacked in the alley.

Among the identified suspects, Shuvo Kanti Das is a student at BGC Trust University Bangladesh in Chattogram’s Chandanaish upazila, and Zia Uddin Fahim is the president of the Chhatra League unit at Bakalia Government College. Police and local sources confirmed these identities. Rajib Bhattacharya, also known as Suman, is a follower of a South Chattogram Chhatra League leader and works for a shipping company. He was arrested by Kotwali police along with seven other suspects in connection with the murder.

Rajib was seen wearing a helmet and holding a weapon in a photo released by The Business Standard. Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Detective Branch officials arrested him on the evening of 27 November, and further investigations are underway to apprehend more suspects. Rajib will be handed over to Kotwali police after the operation.

Shuvo Kanti Das was reportedly a supporter of Chinmoy, and the university authorities suspended him following his alleged involvement in the attack. Multiple sources suggested that Shuvo’s role in the murder was confirmed, but the police have indicated that further scrutiny is needed to confirm Fahim’s involvement.

According to law enforcement, additional individuals, such as Suman Dandi from the Methor Patti area, Bikash De from Hazari Goli in Kotwali, Narayan Chakraborty from Jalsa Market, and Montu De from Nimtala in the port area, were identified in photos taken during the incident. However, The Business Standard could not independently verify their identities.

Rana Bamon, a local resident of Kotwali, mentioned that most of the attackers were from Gangabari in the Patharghata area. The Kotwali police are continuing efforts to identify all involved in the murder, aided by CCTV footage collected from the scene.

Video footage collected by the police depicts a group of 15 to 20 individuals viciously beating and hacking Alif to death. Some of the attackers were seen using weapons, and two men wearing helmets continued their assault on Alif even as he lay on the ground.

University suspends Shuvo

In response to Shuvo’s alleged involvement in the attack, BGC Trust University decided to suspend him after photos and videos of the incident circulated on social media. A notice was issued, signed by the acting registrar, SM Shoaib, indicating that the decision was made following an academic committee meeting. Deputy Registrar Salahuddin Shahreir confirmed that the suspension would remain in effect until further notice. A classmate of Shuvo’s revealed that he had posted various supportive messages for Chinmoy on his Facebook account, though the account was deactivated by the following day.

20 more arrested

In addition to the murder suspects, 20 more individuals were arrested during raids by Kotwali police in various areas. These individuals were detained in connection with three separate cases—attacking the police, obstructing government work, and vandalism at the court premises. Officer-in-Charge Fazlul Kabir of Kotwali police station stated that between 1,100 and 1,200 people were named as accused in the cases. The family of the deceased had not filed a case regarding the murder by 11:00 PM on 27 November.

How Alif died

On Tuesday, Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court denied bail to Chinmoy, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, and ordered his imprisonment. This decision sparked protests, during which lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was tragically killed.

 

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