murder of Saiful Islam Alif

On 25 November 2024, Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on charges of sedition.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Ex-ISKCON leader arrested at HSIA |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/ex-iskcon-leader-arrested-hsia-3761491 |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}} The next day, Das was presented before the Chittagong Court where he was denied bail and was ordered to be sent to jail.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Chinmoy Krishna's bail rejected, sent to jail |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/664a2aveed |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Prothomalo |language=en}} Following the court hearing, his followers including alleged members of ISKCON, started a protest in the vicinity of the court, demanding his release. They also prevented him from being taken to jail by blocking the way of the police van. After the protesters threw bricks at the police, the law enforcements started baton charge, throwing tear gas and sound grenades.{{Cite news |date=27 November 2024 |title=One killed in Bangladesh as Hindu protesters clash with police |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-police-us-teargas-against-hindu-protesters-2024-11-26/ |work=Reuters}} Following which, the agitators vandalised cars, motorcycles and a lawyer's chamber on the ground floor of the court building. In addition, the glass of the court's central mosque was broken due to the agitators throwing stones.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/ckglqk5zpyeo |title=চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীর পরিচয় সম্পর্কে যা জানা যাচ্ছে |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024|work=BBC Bangla}}{{cite news |url=https://www.deshrupantor.com/554280/%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8 |title=কে এই চিন্ময় কৃষ্ণ দাস |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024|work=Desh Rupantar}}{{cite news |url=https://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/3cc42e533b73 |title=আইনজীবী হত্যা: ভিডিও দেখে ৬ জন আটক |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024|work=bdnews24}}{{cite web|url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/779646 |title=Eight more arrested, protests continue|date=November 2024 |publisher=Daily Sun}}

Saiful Islam Alif ({{langx|bn|সাইফুল ইসলাম আলিফ}}) was a resident of the Chunati area in Lohagara Upazila, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He passed Dakhil from Adhunagar Islamia Kamil Madrasa and HSC from Chittagong College. He passed LLB and LLM from International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC).{{cite news |title=ইসকন সমর্থকদের হাতে খুন আলিফ চিরনিদ্রায় শায়িত |language=bn |url=https://www.jugantor.com/country-news/884144 |access-date=29 November 2024 |work=Jugantor |date=27 November 2024}} He began his legal career in 2018, practicing law in Chittagong. He was later admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 2023.

Several lawyers also confirmed that Alif was politically affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He was a member of the BNP's legal aid committee in Lohagara Upazila and participated in the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum, a pro-BNP law firm. His name was listed as a voter within the organisation as well. Also, Alif was claimed to be a member of the BNP-Jamaat-backed lawyers' panel. However, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman claimed that Alif was a member of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.{{cite news |title=আলিফকে দলীয় কর্মী দাবি করে জামায়াত আমিরের নিন্দা |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/m/politics/news/984378 |publisher=Jagonews24 |access-date=2024-11-28|language=bn}}

Amidst the unrest, Alif was reportedly dragged into the nearby Rangam Convention Hall by some of the protesters near the court, where he was subjected to a severe physical assault. Witness accounts and a video posted on social media, suggest that he was beaten and hacked, leading to critical injuries.{{cite web|url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/6-detained-over-alifs-murder-identified-through-video-footage-cao-1003836|title=6 people, identified through video footage, detained over Ctg lawyer Alif's murder: CAO|website=The Business Standard|date=27 November 2024|access-date=30 November 2024}}

Local witnesses eventually rescued him and rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 4:00 p.m. BST citing blunt force trauma. His murder happened amidst a broader atmosphere of disorder, with the attackers leveraging the protests to carry out the targeted assault. Several other people, including bystanders and journalists, were injured during the clashes.

Alif was buried at his village Chunati after funeral prayers at Chittagong Court compound and Jamiatul Falah Mosque at Chittagong City and two funeral prayers at Lohagara Upazila.{{cite web |title=চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল |language=bn |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/bangladesh/news/747606 |date=2024-11-27 |website=Daily Janakantha}} Apart from this, absentee funeral prayers were held in several places around the country, including Dhaka University.{{cite web |url=https://www.dhakapost.com/national/325764 |title=চার দফা জানাজা শেষে চিরশায়িত অ্যাডভোকেট সাইফুল |language=bn |date=27 November 2024 |publisher=Dhaka Post}}{{cite web |title=টিএসসিতে আইনজীবী সাইফুল ইসলামের গায়েবানা জানাজা অনুষ্ঠিত |language=bn |url=https://jamuna.tv/news/578708 |date=2024-11-27 |website=Jamuna Television}}{{cite web |title=আইনজীবী সাইফুলের জানাজায় মানুষের ঢল |language=bn |url=https://samakal.com/whole-country/article/267389/%25E0%25A6%2586%25E0%25A6%2587%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A7%2580%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A7%2580-%25E0%25A6%25B8%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2587%25E0%25A6%25AB%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A7%259F-%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%25B7%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%25A2%25E0%25A6%25B2 |date=2024-11-27 |website=Samakal}}

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder and assured legal action to be taken.{{cite news |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/708630/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AB-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE |title=আইনজীবী আলিফ হত্যায় প্রধান উপদেষ্টার নিন্দা |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Daily Ittefaq}} In addition, various political parties and civil society members issued statements condemning the killing.{{cite news|url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/1431061.details |title=চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জামায়াতের |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024|work=Banglanews24}}{{cite news |url=https://www.kalbela.com/national/142871 |title=চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যায় খেলাফত মজলিসের নিন্দা |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Kalbela}}{{cite news |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/amp/984405 |title=চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার নিন্দা জানিয়ে সিপিবির বিবৃতি |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Jago News 24}} Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman condemned the killing, claiming the victim to be a party member.

After Alif's funeral, Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, addressed the press, calling for a ban on ISKCON.{{cite news |title=ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি সারজিস আলমের |language=bn |url=https://bangla.bdnews24.com/ctg/7b80a8bc997a |work=bdnews24|access-date=27 November 2024}}

In addition, various Islamist organisations like Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Ulama Parishad, Khelafat Majlish & Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (the student's wing of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) and a section of lawyers under the umbrellas of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (the legal wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party) & Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association demanded the arrest of those involved in the murder and the banning of ISKCON.{{cite news |title=আইনজীবী হত্যার বিচার ও ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি জাতীয়তাবাদী আইনজীবী ফোরামের |language=bn |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/898k98dqoe |work=Prothom Alo|access-date=27 November 2024}}{{cite news |title= এবার খেলাফত মজলিসের সমাবেশে ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি |language=bn |url=https://www.kalbela.com/country-news/142895 |work=Kalbela |access-date=28 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবিতে উত্তরায় উলামা পরিষদের বিক্ষোভ |language=bn |url=https://www.somoynews.tv/news/2024-11-27/v5zR6N5O |work=Somoy News |access-date=28 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি জানালো হেফাজতে ইসলাম |language=bn |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/708665/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE |work=Daily Ittefaq|access-date=28 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=রংপুরে ছাত্রশিবিরের বিক্ষোভ, ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি |language=bn |url=https://www.dhakapost.com/country/325748 |work=Dhaka Post |access-date=27 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=ইসকন নিষিদ্ধের দাবি সুপ্রিম কোর্ট বারের |language=bn |url=https://www.dhakapost.com/law-courts/325894 |work=Dhaka Post|access-date=28 November 2024}} However, the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected all pleas to ban ISKCON.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-29 |title=Bangladesh court rejects plea to ban ISKCON: All you need to know |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/bangladesh-iskon-ban-history-activities-9695905/lite/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Chittagong District Bar Association observed a strike on 27 and 28 November to protest the murder of Saiful Islam Alif.

In a news conference on 28 November, ISKCON denied any kind of involvement in the murder of Alif.{{cite news |title=চিন্ময়ের কার্যক্রমে ইসকন দায়ী নয় |language=bn |url=https://www.dhakapost.com/national/325878 |publisher=Dhaka Post |date=28 November 2024}}

A video footage of Alif's killing was widely circulated on social media. Following an analysis of the footage, police identified and arrested seven individuals in connection with the incident: Rumit Das, Sumit Das, Gagan Das, Nayan Das, Bishal Das, Aman Das, and Monu Methor.{{cite web |title=পুলিশের তিন মামলা, ফুটেজ দেখে হত্যায় জড়িত সাতজন শনাক্ত |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/3ciug2sjml |publisher=Prothom Alo |language=bn |date=28 November 2024}} BGC Trust University authority expelled a law student over the incident.{{cite news |title=সাইফুলকে যেভাবে হত্যা করা হয়, ৭ জন শনাক্ত |language=bn |url=https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/bangladesh/ajp3lzhnh50hy |work=Ajker Patrika|access-date=27 November 2024}}

On the night of 29 November, Alif's father filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station, naming 31 individuals and 10-15 unidentified persons as accused.{{Cite web |last=প্রতিবেদক |first=নিজস্ব |date=2024-11-30 |title=আইনজীবী সাইফুল হত্যায় ৩১ জনের নাম উল্লেখ করে মামলা |url=https://www.dhakapost.com/national/326248 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=dhakapost.com |language=bn}}

On 4 December, at around 11:45 pm (BST), police arrested Chandan Das, the prime accused in the Alif murder case, from Bhairab, Kishoreganj.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-05 |title=আইনজীবী সাইফুল হত্যার প্রধান আসামি চন্দন গ্রেপ্তার |url=https://www.desh.tv/country-news/49348 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Desh TV |language=bn}}{{Cite web |last=bdnews24.com |title=Prime suspect in lawyer Siaful's murder arrested in Kishoreganj |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/ddede0f4a469 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Key suspect in lawyer Saiful’s murder arrested |language=en}}

On 10 April, 2025, court denied bail for 11 accused in the murder case{{Cite web |title=No bail for 11 accused in lawyer Alif murder case |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/378378/no-bail-for-11-accused-in-lawyer-alif-murder-case |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}

{{main|Anti-Bangladeshi disinformation in India}}

Incorrect and false information was spread in several media outlets regarding the murder of lawyer Alif. Several Indian media outlets, including FirstPost, The Economic Times, Republic World and OpIndia, published inaccurate reports claiming that the Alif was Chinmoy Das' lawyer.{{cite news |title=Fact Check: Lawyer Killed In Bangladesh Was Not Defending Arrested Former ISKCON Priest |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fact-check-lawyer-killed-in-bangladesh-was-not-defending-arrested-former-iskcon-priest-chinmoy-krishna-das-brahmachari-7125937 |access-date=29 November 2024 |work=NDTV.com}} Indian media outlets also claimed that Alif was shot dead by police. The Chief Adviser's press wing said that the claim spread in the Indian media is being spread with false and malicious intentions.{{cite news |url=https://banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/1431145.details |title=নিহত সাইফুলকে চিন্ময় দাসের আইনজীবী দাবি করে ভারতীয় সংবাদমাধ্যমে মিথ্যাচার |language=bn |access-date=28 November 2024|work=Banglanews24}} The news agency Reuters also published a news report written by journalist Ruma Paul, quoting Chittagong Metropolitan Police Deputy Police Commissioner Liaquat Ali Khan, claiming that lawyer Alif was Das' lawyer. However, the government's press wing said that Reuters or any journalist had not taken any statement from Liaquat Ali Khan and that the Chittagong Metropolitan Police protested, saying that Reuters' report was not objective. Later, Reuters revised its report.{{cite news |title=আইনজীবী হত্যার নিউজে পুলিশের বক্তব্য নেয়নি রয়টার্স : সিএমপি |language=bn |url=https://www.banglaoutlook.org/news/239138 |access-date=29 November 2024 |work=Bangla Outlook}}{{cite news |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangla/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6/news-details-283156 |title=চট্টগ্রামে আইনজীবী হত্যার ঘটনায় রয়টার্সের তথ্য সরকার যেভাবে ভুল প্রমাণ করল |language=bn |access-date=27 November 2024|work=The Business Standard}}

According to a report published by BBC Bangla, Alif was mistakenly reported as an assistant public prosecutor in several media.{{cite news |title=চট্টগ্রামে নিহত আইনজীবীকে নিয়ে দেশি-বিদেশী গণমাধ্যমে ভুল দাবি |language=bn |url=https://dismislab.com/factcheck/politics/false-claim-lawyer-death-media-chittagong/ |work=Dismissallab |access-date=28 November 2024}}

• Murder of Abrar Fahad
• Hazari Lane violence
• Bangladesh post-resignation violence (2024–present)

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alif, Saiful Islam}}

Category:2024 deaths

Category:2024 murders in Bangladesh

Category:November 2024 crimes in Asia

Category:Deaths by edged and bladed weapons

Category:Human rights abuses in Bangladesh

Category:Bangladeshi murder victims

Category:Murder in Bangladesh

Category:Political scandals in Bangladesh

Category:2024 in Chittagong

Category:November 2024 in Bangladesh