In a significant move, Bangladesh heightened security measures in the port city of Chittagong on Wednesday. This decision came on the heels of police apprehending six individuals linked to the murder of a lawyer. This incident unfolded amid clashes triggered by the arrest of a leader from the nation’s Hindu minority community.
On Monday, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent figure within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, was apprehended at Dhaka airport. He faces several charges, including sedition.
The arrest ignited significant protests in Dhaka and Chittagong, leading to confrontations between supporters and security forces.
Authorities reported that a Muslim lawyer was fatally shot during demonstrations outside a courthouse in Chittagong.
According to a statement released by the interim government’s press office, video footage has identified six suspects.
Authorities have taken into custody 21 additional individuals for their involvement in vandalism and for assaulting police officers amid the unrest that occurred on Tuesday. Police have apprehended six individuals affiliated with the Awami League, the political party led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Authorities reported that these individuals were discovered with homemade, improvised explosives in their possession.
The interim government, formed after Hasina’s departure to India in August amid violent protests, has initiated an investigation into the lawyer’s murder and has urged for heightened security measures in Chittagong.
Das, who is currently facing sedition charges for purportedly showing disrespect towards Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally in October, had his bail request denied by a Chittagong court on Tuesday.
The arrest of Das has drawn condemnation from India, the Hindu-majority neighbor, which has voiced concerns regarding the ongoing attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh. New Delhi has called for accountability, insisting that those behind the violence against minorities must face justice.
