Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. File Photo

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS)- A court here on Monday indicted 39 people 
including the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and 
former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, in lawyer Saiful Islam 
Alif murder case.

The Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Zahidul Haque framed 
charges against them after hearing the law-point arguments from both sides.

The government prosecutor of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, SUM Nurul Islam, 
confirmed that charges were formally framed in the presence of all the 
arrested accused, including Chinmoy.
 
Charges have been filed against Chinmoy under sections 302 and 109, and 22 
other accused face charges under various sections. Out of the 39 accused in 
this case, 23 are currently in jail, while the remaining 16 are on the run.
 
Security was heightened at the Chattogram court premises during the hearing 
of the high-profile murder case. A checkpoint was established at the main 
entrance. Chinmoy and his 23 co-accused were brought to court from the 
Chattogram jail under tight security around 9:45 am.
 
Chattogram District Bar Association President Advocate Abdus Sattar stated 
that Chinmoy was represented in court by Dhaka lawyer Apurba Bhattacharya. 
Both the plaintiff and the accused presented their arguments, and after the 
hearing, the court ordered the framing of charges. 

During the hearing, Chinmoy's lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya claimed 
innocence and applied for his release from the case. The state party objected 
to this, and after hearing both sides, the court framed charges against 39 
accused individuals. The judge read out the charges against the accused 
present in the court. 
 
Meanwhile, lawyer Saiful's father Jamal Uddin appeared in court and expressed 
satisfaction with the order to start the trial of the accused.

 He hoped that the trial would conclude quickly. The investigation officer 
submitted the charge sheet to the Chattogram court on July 1, 2025, accusing 
38 people, including Chinmoy Das. 

The court accepted the charge-sheet against 39 people, including accused 
Sukanta Dutta, on August 25 of the same year. Last month, the case was ready 
for trial and was transferred from the magistrate's court to the speedy trial 
tribunal.