A prosecution witness testified in the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif before a Chattogram tribunal on Thursday, with the court setting 30 November for the next hearing.
Mohammad Sharif, an additional public prosecutor of the Chattogram District Bar Association and an eyewitness to the incident, testified before Judge Fazle Khoda Md Nazir the Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal and Special Sessions Judge Court on Thursday.
Accused Chinmoy Krishna Das joined the proceedings virtually instead of being brought to court physically due to security concerns.
His lawyer sought more time to cross-examine the witness. Chinmoy’s defence team had not cross-examined the previous two witnesses in the case and again sought time without questioning Sharif on Thursday.
Another accused, Rajib Bhattacharya, conducted his own cross-examination without appointing a lawyer. He told the court he would represent himself in questioning the witnesses. He had also cross-examined the previous two witnesses personally.
The accused were brought to court under tight security between 11:30am and 11:45am. Seven of them were brought in chains. During the hearing, they asked the court to remove the restraints.
Following the proceedings, the accused were sent back to the district jail. Their relatives were seen waiting outside the court premises.
Mohammad Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, assistant public prosecutor representing Alif’s family, confirmed the testimony and cross-examination.
Saiful Islam Alif was killed with sharp weapons during clashes in Chattogram on 26 November 2024.
The violence erupted after former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das was denied bail in a sedition case, triggering protests by his supporters and clashes around Rangam Convention Centre and the court premises.
Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station, naming 31 people.
Separate cases were also filed over vandalism and under the Explosives Act.
On 25 August 2025, a Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court accepted the charge sheet against 39 people, including Chinmoy Krishna Das.
The next hearing is scheduled for 30 November, four days after the second anniversary of Alif’s death on 26 November.
