A General Diary (GD) has been filed regarding the scuffle between the lawyers in the courtroom during the testimony against the acting chairman of BNP Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case on the charge of acquiring wealth beyond known income.
Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Rahman confirmed the matter to Bangla Tribune on Wednesday. He stated that the GD was filed by Nazir Shah Md Mamun of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court in relation to the disturbance that occurred in the court on Tuesday night.
The GD includes the names of 28 lawyers, including BNP International Affairs Secretary Advocate Masood Ahmed Talukder, and around 100 to 150 unidentified pro-BNP lawyers. Inspector (Investigation) Mahbubur Rahman of Kotwali police station stated that necessary measures will be taken after conducting a thorough investigation.
According to the GD, Tuesday was fixed as the day for testimonies against Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman in the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court and Special Tribunal No 1. The court session resumed at 3pm after the midday break.
However, moments later, pro-BNP lawyers attempted to intimidate the witnesses and disrupt the judicial proceedings by shouting and abusing them inside the court.
Despite efforts by Additional Public Prosecutor Advocate Tapas Pal and ACC Public Prosecutor Advocate Jahangir Hossain to restore order, the pro-BNP lawyers continued to disrupt the proceedings and the testimony of witnesses by chanting slogans. The situation escalated, leading the metropolitan sessions judge to grant temporary relief and summon the police to the scene, said the GD.
Eventually, when pro-Awami lawyers entered the courtroom, the pro-BNP lawyers left amidst chaos. Subsequently, the court concluded the day's transitional judicial proceedings after re-taking the evidence in the case.