DHAKA, Bangladesh — Lawyers in southeastern Bangladesh organized a court boycott on Wednesday in reaction to the violent death of a colleague amid unrest triggered by the arrest of a prominent Hindu leader.
The situation escalated on Tuesday when followers of Krishna Das Prabhu clashed with security forces and Muslim individuals following a magistrate’s denial of bail for him on sedition charges, leading to his detention as further proceedings were ordered.
Since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, the interim government has faced mounting challenges in addressing rising tensions within the country. Members of the Hindu community and other minority groups contend that violence against them has surged since Hasina fled to India amidst widespread protests opposing her 15-year administration. The government, however, maintains that claims of threats against Hindus have been blown out of proportion.
In Bangladesh, around 91% of the population is Muslim, with Hindus constituting nearly all of the remaining demographic.
The outbreak of violence on Tuesday occurred as police sought to transfer Prabhu, also referred to as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, to prison. His supporters surrounded the transport vehicle, halting its progress for several hours. In an effort to disperse the crowd, police deployed tear gas, stun grenades, and baton charges, resulting in numerous injuries among the protesters. Additionally, Muslim individuals joined forces with security personnel to confront the Hindu demonstrators.
The unrest tragically claimed the life of Muslim lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was reportedly leaving the court vicinity when he was killed. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, and Prabhu’s Hindu group has fervently denied any involvement, urging for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, the president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, stated that the lawyers would continue their protest by also boycotting the courts on Thursday. He attributed the violence to the authorities’ failures, particularly highlighting police inaction.
“We seek security for ourselves. His murder occurred in broad daylight, with police and security forces present, yet they could not prevent it. This cannot continue,” Chowdhury asserted.
On Wednesday, thousands attended the funeral prayers for the deceased lawyer. The authorities reported the arrest of at least six individuals after reviewing surveillance footage.
Moreover, the office of interim leader Muhammad Yunus confirmed that 21 additional arrests were made in Chattogram related to police assaults and vandalism incidents.
Krishna Das Prabhu is a well-known Hindu figure and a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote organization. He also represents the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as the Hare Krishna movement, and serves as its spokesperson in Bangladesh.
In light of the violence and Prabhu’s detention, India conveyed a message of deep concern, to which Bangladesh responded by emphasizing that the situation pertains to its domestic matters.