PBI to Investigate Case Filed by Slain Lawyer Alif’s Brother

The investigation into the Explosives Act case filed by the brother of slain lawyer Saiful Islam Alif has been transferred to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chittagong Metro. The case, stemming from violence at the Chittagong court premises, was previously handled by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Bakar Siddique issued the order on Wednesday (May 13) following an application filed on April 29 seeking a change in the investigating agency.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury noted that the court expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress. Despite the passage of time, none of the 400 to 500 accused individuals—both named and unidentified—have been arrested.

"In the interest of a fair and impartial investigation, the court granted the plaintiff's request to move the case from DB to PBI," Chowdhury stated.

The legal battle follows the events of November 26, 2024, when lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during clashes. The violence erupted after a court denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case. While Alif’s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case on November 29, Alif’s brother, Khan Alam, filed a separate case against 116 individuals for explosions and vandalism.