Tue Nov 26 17:43:37 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh Lawyer Killed in Clashes Following Arrest of Hindu Leader
**Chattogram, Bangladesh –** A lawyer was killed and several others injured Tuesday in violent clashes between police and followers of a Hindu community leader in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The unrest erupted after Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote and former member of ISKCON, was denied bail and sent to jail on sedition charges.
Das, arrested a day earlier at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, was accused of disrespecting the national flag during a Hindu community rally. Following the court’s decision, his supporters protested, leading to clashes with police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces who used sound grenades and batons to disperse the crowd.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam, in his early 30s, succumbed to injuries sustained during the violence. Witnesses reported he was dragged from a courtroom and attacked. At least ten others, including journalists, were injured. Similar protests demanding Das’s release erupted in several other Bangladeshi districts.
Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus condemned the lawyer’s murder, ordered an investigation, and directed law enforcement to increase security in Chattogram. While police confirmed one death, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding it continues.
The incident comes amidst a backdrop of increased tensions against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, with over 200 attacks reported since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in August. While government officials claim Das’s arrest was due to sedition charges, concerns remain regarding the broader context of religious tensions within the country.
First Piper 