RAB arrests another suspect in murder of lawyer Alif

The Speedy Trial Tribunal is scheduled to hear the case on Jan 14

Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif (pictured) was killed on 26 Nov, 2024, during the violence that erupted after a Chattogram court denied bail to Hindu preacher Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

The Rapid Action Battalion has arrested another suspect in the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram.

The arrest was announced in a statement signed by RAB-7 Assistant Director (Media) and Assistant Superintendent of Police ARM Mozaffar Hossain on Sunday afternoon.

The arrestee, identified by a single name as Ganesh aka Ganej, 19, is a resident of the port city.

RAB-7 said Ganesh was arrested from the Zilla Parishad Market area on the banks of Laldighi River under the jurisdiction of the Kotwali Police Station on Saturday evening after law enforcers received a tip-off regarding his whereabouts.

A court had previously issued an arrest warrant against him in connection with the murder.

On Dec 19, RAB had conducted a raid in the Nilachal Joint Farm area of Bandarban’s Sadar Thana and arrested 30-year-old Sukanta, another suspect in the case.

Twenty-three suspects, including Ganesh, have been arrested so far in connection with the case. Another 16 suspects are still absconding.

On Saturday, it was learnt that the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court had ordered the Alif murder case be transferred to the Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal on Jan 7. A hearing is scheduled at the tribunal on Jan 14.

On Nov 16 last year, following a court’s rejection of bail for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case, supporters of an organisation he led – the Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Jote, or United Hindu Awakening Alliance -- protested outside the Chattogram court.

Police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd after around two and a half an hours.

During the protest, several motorcycles and vehicles on Court Road were damaged, as glass shards littered the second floor of the Court Mosque Complex, where lawyers' chambers are located.

The demonstration sparked clashes between protestors and lawyers and staff. Saiful was killed during the skirmishes on the Rangam Convention Hall road.

Alif’s father Jamal Uddin filed a murder case on Nov 29, 2024 with the Chattogram Kotwali Police Station over his death, naming 31 people and 15-16 unidentified suspects.

After completing the investigation, investigating officer Chattogram Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali) Mahfuzur Rahman submitted a chargesheet to the court on Jul 1, naming 38 people, with Chinmoy Das listed as the prime suspect.

On Aug 25, the court accepted the chargesheet in the complainant’s presence.