Govt gives highest priority to ISKCON issue, no need to intervene: HC

State lawyers have informed the High Court (HC) that government is giving highest priority to ISKCON issue and chaotic situation created following the murder of a lawyer on the Chattogram Court premises.

Additional Attorney General Aneeq R Haque and Deputy Attorney General Md Asad Uddin further informed the court that the authorities concerned have taken necessary measures regarding the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram.

At least three cases have been filed, a total of 44 people have been made accused in the three cases and at least 33 people, among the accused, have been arrested so far. Out of them, six have been identified after examining CCTV footage.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury held the hearing on Thursday.

The HC then said, "We have been pleasant to hear that the state is attaching utmost importance to this. This is their responsibility. We hope everyone will be pleased to hear this.

We want no harm to lives and property of the country. Since the government is giving utmost importance to this, the court does not see the need to intervene in the matter at this time."

The court further said, "We think the people of our country are very cordial. People of all religions in this country love to live in a friendly manner. That harmony will never break, we hope. And we have friendly relations with our neighbouring countries as well."

Saiful was murdered on November 26 during a violent clash between police, lawyers and followers of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari near the Rangam Convention Hall, adjacent to the Chattogram Court Building.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Monir Uddin on Wednesday placed some newspaper reports about ISKCON before the HC and prayed to issue a suo motu (voluntary) order on the government to ban operations of the organisation and impose Section 144 in Chattogram, Rangpur and Dinajpur.

The court on that day asked the Attorney General to inform this court about what steps the government has taken regarding ISKCON's recent activities.

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