HC issued contempt of court rule against 21 B’baria lawyers

High Court symbol

Jehangir Hussain

The High Court Division on Tuesday issued a contempt of court rule against 21 lawyers including the General Secretary of the Brahmanbaria District Bar Association on the charges of staging a protest rally, obstructing the trial proceedings and chanting slogans against a judge of District Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1.

A bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil also summoned them to appear in person before the court on January 23 to explain their conduct.

The bench issued a rule asking them to explain why the contempt of court proceedings should not be drawn against them on the charge of misconduct with the judge. 

Earlier, the same bench on Thursday summoned three lawyers including the Brahmanbaria Bar Association president for misbehaving with the judge. 

The three lawyers include Brahmanbaria Bar Association President Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Bhuiyan, Secretary (Administration) Advocate Md Akkas Ali and Advocate Zubair Islam. 

The bench asked the trio to appear before the court on January 17 to explain their conduct. 

The bench also issued a rule questioning why punitive action shall not be taken against them on contempt of court charges. 

On January 4, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mohammad Faruq sent a written complaint to the High Court Division to take action against those involved in this incident.

Later, on instruction from the Chief Justice, the registrar general of the Supreme Court sent the written complaint of the judge to the High Court Division’s  bench. 

On January 2, Brahmanbaria Bar Association President Advocate Md Tanvir Bhuiyan, Secretary Advocate Md Akkas Ali and around 10-15 lawyers including Zubair Islam came and rudely asked the judge to leave the courtroom. 

Advocate Tanvir used abusive words in  the court, according to the complaint. 

One of the policemen present in the courtroom recorded the incident which was attached with  the complaint.

Considering the misconduct with a judge during a court session, it is necessary to settle the complaint in the interest of the safety of judges and the image of the judiciary, according to the complaint. 

The lawyers raised obscene and ugly slogans against Brahmanbaria District Judge Sharmin Nigar during  court proceedings on January 5 and January 8.

Judge Nigar sent a letter on Monday to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court seeking remedy stating that the trial proceedings were disrupted  by the lawyers inside the courtroom. 

Registrar General presented the letter to the Chief Justice and the Chief Justice asked the High Court Division’s bench to dispose of the matter. 

The matter came up in the bench which issued the rule and summoned the lawyers to appear in person to explain their conduct. 

The 21 lawyers,  summoned by the bench, include Advocate Md Mofizur Rahman Babul, Advocate Minhajul Islam, Emdadul Haque Hadi, Nizamuddin Khan Rana, Anisur Rahman Manju, Md Jummon Chowdhury, Rashed Mia Hazari, Jaher Ali, Md. A Aziz Khan, Dewan Iftekhar Reza Russell, Md Chadar Uddin, Mahmudur Rahman Roni, Md Mahbubur Rahman, Md Ariful Haque Masud, Mir Mohammad Raisul Ahmed, Mohibur Rahman, Md Zakaria Ahmed, Md Mubarak Ulla, Md Farooq Ahmed, Safiq Ahmed and Iqbal Hossain.

Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy appeared for the state during the court proceedings.

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