HC rebukes 21 B’baria lawyers

The High Court has rebuked 21 lawyers from Brahmanbaria for chanting indecent slogans against a district judge and hampering judicial functions on January 5 and 8.

“The words which you used (against the district judge) are so indecent. The entire lawyers’ community should be ashamed of your conduct. We are embarrassed. It is a crime worse than contempt of court,” said the High Court. 

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil made the remarks on Monday (January 23) when 21 lawyers appeared before it in compliance with its January 10 order.

The HC bench also warned them, saying this court could order cancellation of licences of the 21 lawyers for their indecent conduct.

Later, the court ordered them to appear before it again on February 19 to explain their roles.

On January 10, the court issued a rule asking the lawyers to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for misconduct.

On that day, the HC bench summoned the 21 lawyers to explain the allegation of contempt of court as they chanted indecent slogans against the district judge during the court session.

The HC bench had issued the order following a written complaint by Brahmanbaria District and Sessions Judge Sharmin Nigar. The HC bench also issued a rule asking to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against the accused lawyers.

Brahmanbaria District and Sessions Judge Sharmin Nigar sent a letter to the Supreme Court in this regard on January 9.

On January 5, lawyers of Brahmanbaria under Brahmanbaria District Bar Association staged demonstration and announced to boycott court activities demanding removal of two judges- district judge Sharmin Nigar and the tribunal judge Mohammad Faruk for ‘corruption’ and ‘misbehaviour’ with them.