The Supreme Court Bar Association, led by pro-opposition lawyers, yesterday asked judges and lawyers to observe a “work abstention” in all the courts of the country today, in protest against the attack made on the pro-BNP lawyers on Sunday.
“The attack is like a strike on the judicial system,” AJ Mohammad Ali, president of the organisation told a press briefing held at the SCBA building yesterday.
The apex court premises again experienced clashes yesterday, as fighting broke out between the pro-Awami League men and the pro-opposition lawyers, though not violent like the previous day.
The lawyers who support the opposition’s programme against the January 5 polls brought out a procession at the SCBA building around 11:35am. When the demo reached the main entrance of the court, activists of Jubo Mohila League threw bricks and shoes at them. The pro-opposition lawyers in retaliation hurled stones.
In the meantime, AKM Shamul Islam, the Supreme Court registrar, reached the spot to observe the situation. But he faced the wrath of pro-BNP lawyers.
Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, a pro-BNP lawyer, termed him a “collaborator of Awami League” and alleged that he had allowed the ruling party-backed hooligans to storm the court premises on Sunday. The registrar, however, denied his role in Sunday’s incidents.
They told him that it was the duty of the registrar to ensure security of the lawyers.
In reply, Shamsul said it was not possible to shield them all the time. “Do you want to cross the gate?” he asked. The pro-opposition lawyers said they did want to cross. Few minutes later, the registrar left the spot whereas the clashes continued for 15 more minutes.
When the lawyers left the place, stick-wielding activists of Muktijoddha Projonmo League joined with Jubo Mohila League, and tried to enter the court premises but were resisted by the law enforcers.
Around half an hour after the clash stopped, a procession of more than 100 pro-Awami League lawyers led by former Bar Council vice-chairman and Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad President Abdul Baset Majumdar reached the main gate amid slogans against the BNP-Jamaat. Senior lawyer Yusuf Hossain Humayun, also member of the Awami League’s Advisory Council, condemned the attack on lawyers. He said: “Yesterday’s [Sunday’s] incident is disrespectful towards the Supreme Court and a violation of the ethics of practice.”
