Well-Known Hindu Lawyer, Who Helped Convict Terrorists, Missing In Bangladesh

A Hindu lawyer, who was the public prosecutor in two high-profile cases that resulted in death sentences being handed to 12 Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists, has gone missing since last Friday (30 March), setting off widespread protests in the country.

Ratish Chandra Bhowmik had argued the state’s case against the JMB terrorists responsible for killing Japanese national Kunio Hoshi in October 2015 and murdering Rahamat Ali, caretaker of a Sufi shrine, the next month.

A special court in the country’s northern province of Rangpur handed the death sentence earlier last week to five JMB terrorists for the killing of the Japanese national and also sent seven more JMB men to the gallows for the killing of the Sufi shrine caretaker.

Bhowmik had argued the cases very forcefully,but had declined police protection. He had appeared on TV channels to talk about both the cases and was widely quoted in the media. Police suspect the JMB behind his disappearance. Political parties (including the ruling Awami League) and many other organisations issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the police to trace Bhowmik, who is known as a fearless lawyer.