Chittagong, Jan 13 (V7N) — The court has granted bail to 63 lawyers accused in a case filed by the brother of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, who was killed during the vandalism and attack on the Chittagong court premises following the denial of bail to Sanatan Jagran Alliance spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das.

The lawyers surrendered to the court on Monday afternoon and applied for bail. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sarkar Hasan Shahriar granted the bail after a hearing.

Subrata Chowdhury, representing the accused, stated, “The lawyers named in the case were not involved in the incident. The plaintiff who filed the case was not even present at the scene. The court found merit in our argument and granted bail until the charge sheet or police report is submitted.”

State lawyer Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan added that the bail was granted as the investigation is ongoing, and the court will await the police report.

The case was filed by Jane Alam, brother of the late Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, against 116 individuals, alleging vandalism, explosions, and public attacks. Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, also filed a separate murder case against 31 people related to his son’s killing. The police have filed three additional cases related to clashes, vandalism, and obstruction of police work in the court area.

A large contingent of police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel was deployed at the court premises on Monday to ensure security during the lawyers’ surrender.

The incident stems from a protest on November 26, 2024, when the court rejected Chinmoy Krishna Das’s bail application in a sedition case and ordered him to be sent to prison. Following the order, protesters from the traditional community clashed with police, leading to the death of Advocate Alif.

The court premises have since been under heightened security as investigations into the clashes and related cases continue.

END/MSS/AJ