Advocateship candidates stage sit-in near law minister's Banani residence

A section of candidates for advocateship staged a sit-in near the residence of Law Minister Anisul Huq at Banani in Dhaka today demanding their enrolment as lawyers through viva voce without any written tests.

Around 300 candidates, who passed the multiple choice question (MCQ) test, started the sit-in this afternoon and postponed the programme in the evening after Law Minister Anisul Huq told them that he will talk with Bangladesh Bar Council about their demand.

"Bangladesh Bar Council, the statutory authority to issue licence to lawyers to practice law in the court, is an autonomous organisation. What I can only do is talk to the Bangladesh Bar Council about your demand," the minister told the agitating candidates.

Earlier in the day, the candidates staged a demonstration and formed a human chain at Shahbagh Intersection with the same demand.

Previously, they had observed token hunger strike to press home their demand in front of Jatiya Press Club for several days as the Bangladesh Bar Council failed to hold their written tests on time.

The written test for advocateship under the Bangladesh Bar Council, which was scheduled to be held on September 26, has been postponed for the time being amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The next date for holding the written test, where around 13,000 candidates will participate, will be declared later, according to a notice issued by the Bangladesh Bar Council, undersigned by its Secretary Md Rafiqul Islam on September 20.

The written test for bar council enrolment is held at different hall rooms of Dhaka University under its arts faculty, the notification said.

The authorities concerned of the DU have refused to hold the written test on September 26 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.