Lawyers take to Chief Justice: What bedevil SC Bar polls

Law enforcers in action on Supreme Court lawyers. UNB

Dhaka, Mar 16 - Pro-BNP lawyers on Thursday day narrated yesterday’s incidents over the Supreme Court Bar Association election to Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.

Seven other judges of the Appellate Division were present at the time.

Later, the chief justice asked the BNP-backed Bar Association president candidate Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol to go to his “khas kamra” at 11 am. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, the chief legal officer of the state, may also be summoned at the time, if necessary, the chief justice said.

Earlier in the morning, when the court proceedings started, former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali, a leader of the BNP forum, first presented the statement in front of the chief justice.

“An unprecedented incident took place at the Supreme Court premises yesterday. It’s still going on. Even today, there are police stationed in front of many of the lawyers’ rooms. Why today?” – he asked.

“We have to see if outsiders are behind this incident… They also tortured senior members of the association. We want protection,” he said.

Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol, the secretary candidate of the association, said, “As a member of the association, we want to share our pain and sorrow with you, as a guardian. The Bar Association election is always festive. But what happened this time is unprecedented. I still can’t go into my room. I was attacked yesterday and my robe was torn. Today I borrowed an old robe and put it on. Thousands of police have been deployed. Lawyers were beaten up by the police and thrown out of the polling station. Why can’t I be present at the polling station?” – he asked.

“An election steering committee was formed with Justice Mansurul Haque Chowdhury as the head. He also performed his duties in the afternoon of March 13. But he resigned in the evening. What happened to him suddenly?” – Kajal asked.

“Later, he called me and told me that the current president and secretary had forced him to resign. Even if he resigns, a new body will have to be formed after taking everyone’s opinion into consideration. But without doing so, they started voting,” Kajal said.

“Later in the night, a case was filed. Many people, including me and the president candidate, have been accused. Then a second case was filed. Six current leaders of the association have also been accused,” he said.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the candidate for the post of president of the association, also presented his statement. He said, “Three to four hundred policemen entered the polling station and started pushing.”

“Police were kicking us. I can’t stand properly due to the pain. Many lawyers were injured. Journalists were also injured,” he added. - UNB