BNP lawyers locked in, locked out

Pro-BNP lawyers including one of Khaleda Zia’s lawyers are being prevented by the police from going about their activities. In the High Court, Nationalist Lawyers’ Association Vice-President Monir Hossain claimed the government wants to establish Baksal and are hence preventing the protests. The pro-BNP lawyers were locked inside the High Court when police prevented them from leaving the premises. Police locked the Mazargate entrance, shutting the lawyers in, who started chanting slogans favouring Khaleda Zia. Outside the special court in Bakshibazar, where the verdict is being read out, BNP Vice-Chairman Ahmed Azam Khan claimed he was prevented from entering the court. He lamented not being able to enter the court, saying: “I have been a legal counsel to Khaleda Zia for 26 years, and today they are keeping me out of the court? I am speechless, I have nothing to say.” When asked, senior officials of law enforcement agencies refused to comment on the matter.