Pro-BNP lawyers are staging a demonstration at the Supreme Court premises, protesting the High Court decision to double the jail term of Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case.
The protesters started the demonstration on Wednesday morning by locking up two main entrances to the court premises, reports UNB.
Tensions escalated as a group of pro-Awami League lawyers, led by Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad President Yusuf Hossain brought a procession at the court premises around 10:30am.
Yusuf Hossain told reporters the bar association did not take the decision to boycott the court, the pro-BNP lawyers took it.
Pro-Awami League and pro-BNP lawyers then engaged in a heated verbal exchange, which soon resulted in sporadic scuffles, as the former attempted to break the locks on the main gates.
The pro-Awami League lawyers managed to break one of the locks on the gate located beside the attorney general’s office.
Also Read- Zia Orphanage Trust case: Jail term doubled for Khaleda
However, sources from the court said regular activities are being carried out both in the Appellate Division and in the High Court, but the presence of lawyers in the premises are less in numbers than usual.
The High Court on Tuesday increased BNP Chairperson Khaleda’s jail term to ten years from five years, after dismissing an appeal filed by her and two fellow convicts.
Led by Supreme Court Bar Association President Zainul Abedin, the pro-BNP lawyers announced the boycott of the High Court and Appellate division’s proceedings from 9am to 1pm in protest of the verdict.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said Khaleda will remain legally unfit to run for the electoral race even if the Apex court stays the High Court’s verdict in future.
He also said the former prime minister will have to serve a total of 17 years in jail for the Zia Orphanage and Charitable Trust cases.