The bail application of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, has been rescheduled for a hearing on January 2.
The court fixed the new date after no defence lawyer appeared on his behalf on Tuesday.
Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam issued the order on Tuesday morning, said Nesar Ahmed, Nazir of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court.
Nesar said that the bail hearing had initially been slated for Tuesday. While the prosecution team was fully present, no lawyer representing the accused appeared in court. As a result, the hearing was deferred to January 2 upon the prosecution鈥檚 request.
In the meantime, security around the court premises and adjacent areas has been significantly tightened. Vehicular movement was restricted, with only private vehicles allowed entry after thorough checks.
Members of the police, army, and Rapid Action Battalion were deployed at key checkpoints to maintain order. However, Chinmoy Krishna Das was not brought before the court on the day.
Meanwhile, a group of lawyers has warned of continuing their movement if Chinmoy Krishna Das is not shown arrested in connection with the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
The protest began at 10:45am on Tuesday at the Chattogram court premises, where the lawyers issued their ultimatum during a rally condemning Alif鈥檚 killing.
Addressing the gathering, the lawyers said, 鈥楥hinmoy Krishna Das has yet to be shown arrested in the Saiful Islam Alif murder case. We demand his immediate arrest in connection with the case. Otherwise, our movement will continue. We also strongly condemn the attack on the Bangladesh high commission in Agartala and the burning of the Bangladesh flag.鈥�
Earlier, the Chattogram District Bar Association gave a directive discouraging lawyers from representing the accused. The association鈥檚 leaders also demanded that Chinmoy Krishna Das be accused in all related cases.
Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote in a statement on Sunday claimed that 70 Hindu lawyers had been named as defendants in the case filed by Alif鈥檚 brother, Khane Alam. The organisation alleged that the move was intended to obstruct the bail hearing of Chinmoy Krishna Das.
On November 26, the Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Chattogram rejected Chinmoy鈥檚 bail in a sedition case and ordered him to be sent to jail.
Saiful Islam Alif, a Chattogram court assistant public prosecutor, was stabbed indiscriminately in the head and neck during the clash between law enforcement agencies and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) leader, on the day.聽
Five cases were filed so far over Saiful Islam Alif鈥檚 killing near court premises and vandalism and other offences.
The police have filed three of the cases and victim families filed the rest two, while 38 people, including nine, have been arrested in connection with Saiful killing.
Four days after the lawyer had been hacked to death, victim鈥檚 father Jamal Uddin filed a murder case with the Kotwali police against 31 named and 10-15 unidentified people on Saturday.
Saiful鈥檚 elder brother Khane Alam filed another case with the same police over attacks and vandalism perpetrated on a Chattogram court premises against 116 named individuals and 400鈥�500 unnamed people.