Lawyers in southeastern Bangladesh boycotted courts on Wednesday in protest over the killing of a colleague during a day of widespread violence sparked by the arrest of a prominent Hindu leader, Krishna Das Prabhu, The Associated Press reports.
The violence erupted Tuesday after a magistrate denied Prabhu bail on sedition charges and ordered his detention. Hundreds of Prabhu’s followers clashed with security forces and members of the Muslim community following the ruling. Police used tear gas, stun grenades, and batons to disperse the crowds, resulting in numerous injuries. The clashes continued, with reports of Muslims also attacking Hindu protesters. In the ensuing chaos, a Muslim lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, was killed. It remains unclear who is responsible for his death, though Prabhu’s Hindu group has denied involvement and demanded an investigation.
The violence began as police attempted to transport Prabhu to jail. His supporters surrounded the vehicle, creating a stand-off for hours before police intervened.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, condemned the authorities, particularly the police, for failing to prevent the prolonged violence. He announced the lawyers’ boycott, which is set to continue on Thursday. Thousands attended Alif’s funeral on Wednesday.
Authorities have arrested at least 27 individuals in connection with the violence: six for involvement in the clashes and 21 for attacks on police and vandalism. Authorities are reportedly reviewing video footage to identify further suspects.
The incident comes amidst heightened tensions in Bangladesh since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5th. An interim government is struggling to maintain order. Minority groups, including Hindus, report an increase in attacks since Hasina’s departure for India following a major uprising. The government disputes the severity of these claims. Hindus comprise approximately 9% of Bangladesh’s predominantly Muslim population.
Prabhu, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is a respected figure, a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and a spokesman for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna) in Bangladesh. India expressed “deep concern” over the violence and Prabhu’s arrest, a statement Bangladesh dismissed as an internal matter.
