A Chattogram court has ordered the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif to trial, indicting 23 suspects, including Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Jote, or United Hindu Awakening Alliance, spokesman Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Md Zahidul Haque framed the charges on Monday.

The suspects had previously been brought to court in a prison van at 9:45 am, reports bdnews24.com.

The Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions judge had sent the case to the Speedy Trial Tribunal on Jan 7.

On Nov 26, 2024, supporters of Chinmoy protested in court following the rejection of his bail in a sedition case. Police dispersed the demonstration with stun grenades after two and a half hours, and during the resulting commotion on Court Road near Rangam Convention Hall, Alif was attacked, beaten, and fatally stabbed.

Of the 39 accused in the case, 16 suspects are absconding.

Security was beefed up in and around the court premises from 8:00 am.

Police were seen on high alert in areas surrounding the court, including Terri Bazar, Laldighi Par, Jail Road, Kotwali Mor, Zahur Hawker Market, Hazari Goli, KC De Road, and adjacent neighbourhoods.

Around 8:30 am, police personnel were seen standing behind barricades at the main entrance of the court building. Lawyers, court officials and employees, journalists, and others were allowed to enter the court premises only after showing their identity cards. Fifteen minutes later, members of an army patrol team arrived in the court area and stationed themselves in front of the deputy commissioner’s office.

Earlier on Sunday night, police said law enforcement agencies had taken “special security” measures around the court premises on the day of the charge-framing hearing.

Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed the murder case on Nov 29, 2024, with Kotwali Police, naming 31 individuals and 15–16 unknown persons. All suspects resided in Bandel Road, Shebok Colony near Rangam Convention Hall.

After investigations, Assistant Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman of Chattogram Metropolitan Police submitted a chargesheet on Jul 1, naming 38 suspects, with Chinmoy Das as the prime suspect.

On Aug 25, the court accepted the chargesheet in the presence of the complainant, now listing 39 suspects.