Alif, a senior member of the Chittagong Bar, was accosted by assailants at Pahartali when he was leaving his law office on Monday evening. Investigation reveals that the 42-year-old lawyer had been shot multiple times in broad daylight in an incident that has sent shock waves across his precise community of lawyers. Several witnesses reported seeing two unidentified men, possibly on a motorcycle, fire at Alif before fleeing. The lawyer was admitted to a hospital nearby, where he was pronounced dead because of his serious injuries.
Sources from the Bar Association suggest that Alif might have been targeted because of his involvement in several high-profile cases, particularly his representation in a land dispute case against a powerful local figure. It is anticipated that Alif, having taken several cases involving allegations of forceful land grabbing against persons of influence in Chittagong, will most probably incur the wrath of a few enemies. Alif was fearless in his work; he had taken on many cases that others would have been scared to take on cases involving influential people of Chittagong.
After Alif’s murder, lawyers demonstrated in various parts of the city, attracting large numbers of other people to join protesting outside the court premises. The CDBA issued a statement calling for immediate action by law enforcement expressing grave concern for the safety of lawyers in the region. The association has made the demand for the recovery and arrest of the perpetrators within two days, requesting the government to ensure such an awful incident does not repeat itself.
The courtrooms of Chittagong remain void for the second consecutive day, as lawyers persist with the boycott. “Not only are we protesting this senseless act of violence, but we are also protesting the lack of protection for those who seek justice,” said Advocate Mohiuddin Chowdhury, a prominent member of the CDBA. “Alif’s murder is a glaring testimony that we lawyers are very much vulnerable to attacks, and if justice is not served now, we may well fear for our safety in the future.”
The government has assured that a meticulous inquiry into the murder will be conducted and that a special task force has been formed to catch the killers. There have been no arrests, but sources in the police department indicate they’re pursuing several leads, including possible links to the land dispute cases Alif was involved in.
However, the stagnation in the investigation generated frustration among the legal community. The CDBA has stated that they would intensify their protests, with some lawyers even threatening to march to Dhaka if there is no action taken soon. “We are committed to chasing this down. We will not relent until justice is done,” said a senior lawyer.
The murder of Saiful Islam Alif is no longer simply a tragedy for his family and colleagues; it has catalyzed a wider debate on the need for enhanced protection mechanisms in favor of lawyers, especially those involved in politically sensitive cases.
