Politics, Chaos, Judges Insulted
13 lawyers banned from practice
Chief justice asks for protecting sanctity of court as lawyers initiate peace move
A High Court bench banned 13 opposition-backed lawyers from practising in any court of the country in a ruling yesterday, a day after the same court witnessed raucous protests against the two judges sitting in the bench.
All the 13 lawyers are aligned with the main opposition BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami. Among them are also BNP lawmaker Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia who allegedly hurled a plastic object during the protests, a charge she denies.
The ruling came from Justice AHM Shamsudin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore who witnessed yesterday’s pandemonium after they cautioned BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for her recent remarks against the constitution.
The opposition-backed lawyers scuffled with the pro-government lawyers after the judges questioned Khaleda’s patriotism and observed that her statement on the constitution is tantamount to sedition.
In their order yesterday the judges said the 13 lawyers showed “disrespect to the HC judges.”
It came after Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain placed some newspaper reports on the pandemonium before the HC bench asking for actions. The judges also consulted with some senior lawyers before passing the order.
The HC bench also asked Bangladesh Bar Council to explain by August 14 why the 13 lawyers should not be blamed for committing contempt of court for their “disrespectful conduct with this court.”
The court also asked the 13 lawyers to explain why a direction should not be given to Bangladesh Bar Council to cancel their enrolment certificates on charge of committing professional misconduct.
The 13 lawyers are Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia, a BNP lawmaker; Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Shahiduzzaman, Mirza Al Mahmud, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Abdullah Al Mahmud, Enamul Hossain Gaffar, MU Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Md Ashrafuzzaman Khan, Towhidul Islam, Golam Nobi and Rezwan Ahmed.
Earlier, police sued 14 lawyers (including the 13) and about 40 other people on charge of assaulting law enforcers and preventing them from their doing their duties at the HC during the chaos yesterday.
An HC bench of Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Anwarul Haque is scheduled to hear the bail petitions from the 13 lawyers today.
This bench also asked DAG Mohammad Ullah Kislu, to take steps so that the bail-seeking lawyers are not arrested or harassed till hearing.
Rezwan Ahmed, the 14th lawyer accused by police, did not pray for bail.
The 13 accused lawyers, who filed the petition, yesterday appeared before the HC bench headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury for anticipatory bail in the case filed with Shahbagh Police Station.
Earlier yesterday, the HC bench led by Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik heard statements from some eminent lawyers on the issue of showing disrespect to the HC judges.
The lawyers, who placed statements, included senior lawyer Yusuf Hossain Humayun, former Law Minister Abdul Matin Khasru, MP, former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President AFM Mesbahuddin, former SCBA Secretaries AM Amin Uddin and Nurul Islam Sujan, MP, and Additional Attorney General MK Rahman.
The lawyers told the court that the HC should take appropriate action against the accused lawyers.
The lawyers also said such incident of showing disrespect to the HC judges should not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, another group of senior lawyers both from the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP-Jamaat yesterday made a peace move.
They met with Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and sought his intervention. The chief justice asked the lawyers to sit across the table and settle the dispute peacefully to protect the image and dignity of the apex court, sources close to the move said.
The lawyers who met the chief justice included M Amir-Ul Islam, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Rokanuddin Mahmud, Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Abdul Baset Majumder, SM REzaul Karim from the Awami League camp.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Abdur Razzaq, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Mahbubuddin Khokon, Bodruddoza Badal, were among the pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers.
-With The Daily Star input
