Lawyers in Chattogram have demanded the immediate resignation of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner over the murder of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, linking police negligence to the crime.

They have warned of forcibly removing the commissioner if he does not step down voluntarily.

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During a rally on Thursday, held as part of the second day of the court boycott, lawyers accused the police of “encouraging” the violence surrounding the protest for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari’s release, in which Advocate Alif was killed.

The court boycott has paralysed proceedings in courts in Chattogram for two consecutive days.

“We saw the police standing inactive at a safe distance. They abandoned the prison van (carrying Chinmoy Krishna) and left. We believe the police encouraged this incident,” a protesting lawyer said.

Another lawyer added, “I read in the newspapers that Chinmoy gave a speech using a handheld microphone from the prison van, urging the continuation of their movement. I request that Chinmoy Krishna be made the primary accused in all related cases.”

Advocate Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Lawyers' Association, called the situation unprecedented.

“We are deeply mournful and burdened with grief today. Such an incident has never occurred in Chattogram’s court premises before. This is a difficult time for us,” he said.

He directly criticised the CMP Commissioner, demanding answers about how Chinmoy Krishna Das obtained a handheld microphone in the prison van. “The Police Commissioner must answer for this. Otherwise, he cannot remain in Chattogram. We do not want the Police Commissioner,” he said.

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Advocate Abdus Sattar, convenor of the United Lawyers Front Chattogram, and Advocate Mohammad Shamsul Alam, general secretary of the Bangladesh Lawyers Council, also addressed the rally.