A Chattogram court on Tuesday pushed back by a month the date for holding a hearing on Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari’s bail plea. At the time, no lawyer was present on behalf of the controversial Hindu leader.

Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam fixed 2 January as the new hearing date for Chinmoy’s bail, said the court’s Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Md Enamul Haque.

The court has deferred the hearing date due to the absence of lawyer in Chinmoy’s favour, and the state party also seeking time for taking preparations, Advocate Md Enamul told reporters.

On Tuesday, Chinmoy was not brought before the court, and the law enforcers maintained heavy presence to pre-empt any repetition of last week’s violence.

Chittagong Bar Association leaders and other lawyers demonstrated on the court premises demanding justice for the killing of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif last week near the court allegedly by Chinmoy’s supporters.

On 26 November, thousands of Chinmoy’s supporters prevented police from taking the Hindu leader to prison for hours after the court sent him to jail. As law enforcers moved to disperse them, the Hindu devotees went on a rampage, vandalising the court’s mosque, and attacking law enforcers.

It is widely believed that some Awami League miscreants also took part in the violent demonstrations.

At one point, Advocate Saiful was hacked to death. Three cases have been filed over the murder and violent rampage, leading to the arrest of 39 individuals, so far.