Barishal Court Chaos
Masud Rana :
A case has been filed against 12 lawyers in Barishal under the Speedy Trial Act over allegations of disrupting court proceedings, intimidating judicial officials and vandalising a courtroom during a tense hearing last week.
The case was lodged on Wednesday with Kotwali Model Police Station by Rajib Majumdar, a bench assistant of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.
Police said the case names 12 lawyers and includes eight unidentified individuals. The prime accused, SM Sadiqur Rahman Lincoln, president of the Barishal District Bar Association, has been arrested and sent to jail following a court order.
According to the complaint, the incident took place on February 24 during a bail hearing. Tensions reportedly escalated when a group of lawyers announced a boycott of the Chief and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates’ Courts in Barishal.
The accused allegedly entered the courtroom of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SM Shariyatullah around 2:30pm, ordered ongoing hearings to stop and instructed lawyers to leave. The complaint states that threats were issued and court officials were forced out of the room.
One of the accused allegedly pushed a fellow lawyer, while another reportedly told the judge to step down from the bench. Court staff members were also removed from the courtroom during the unrest.
The complaint further alleges that parts of the courtroom were vandalised, including the judge’s dais, microphones, benches and tables. Important documents, cause lists and case registers were also torn up, severely disrupting judicial activities.
Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Al Mamun Ul Islam confirmed the case and said further legal steps are underway.
Our correspondent said, “According to the complaint, tensions erupted on Feb 24 during a bail hearing in a case. The lawyers in question announced a boycott of the Chief and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates’ Courts in Barishal.”
“They allegedly shouted provocative and offensive slogans in the court premises, creating an atmosphere of fear and panic among litigants and severely disrupting the normal judicial environment.”
At one point, Lincoln ordered all lawyers present to immediately leave the courtroom.
He allegedly pushed one lawyer out of the courtroom, while lawyer Mizanur Rahman rudely instructed the judge to step down from the bench. The suspects also pushed GR officer Shambhu Kanchi Lal and court inspector Tarek Biswas out of the courtroom.
The agitated lawyers later vandalised parts of the courtroom, breaking the dais, microphones, benches, and tables.
They also tore up important court documents, cause lists, and case registers, the complaint alleges, severely disrupting judicial proceedings.
