Dozen hurt as pro-AL, BNP- leaning lawyers scuffle at SCBA
Pro-BNP and Awami League-leaning lawyers scuffled once again yesterday during separate programmes on the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) office premises.
The incident, which left about a dozen lawyers injured, took place after pro-BNP lawyers held a press conference at the association's South Hall protesting Wednesday's court verdict in a graft case against BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman.
The office room of the SCBA secretary was ransacked and some windows were vandalised allegedly by pro-BNP lawyers in the afternoon, said witnesses.
Chaos broke out as lawyers from both camps staged demonstrations and brought out processions.
Leaders of Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad and Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum blamed each other for the incident.
SCBA Secretary Abdun Nur Dulal, also a leader of the Ainjibi Parishad, alleged that pro-BNP lawyers, led by AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kayser Kamal, and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, attacked the pro-AL lawyers and vandalised and ransacked his office room in a planned manner.
"At least five lawyers, including Golam Sarwar Amin and Safayat Jamil of Ainjibi Parishad were injured in the attack," he told The Daily Star.
Dulal said the pro-AL lawyers were holding a "peace meeting" in front of the office rooms of the SCBA president and secretary like other days protesting "anarchy" by pro-BNP lawyers.
He said legal action will be taken against the pro-BNP lawyers.
However, Kayser Kamal, secretary general of Ainjibi Forum, told this correspondent that the pro-AL lawyers, led by SCBA President Md Momtaz Uddin Fakir and Secretary Dulal, attacked the pro-BNP lawyers when they were holding the press conference.
The pro-BNP lawyers resisted the pro-AL lawyers. At a stage, pro-AL lawyers spread powder from fire extinguishers, leaving about nine pro-BNP lawyers, including Salma Sultana Soma and Jasmine Akhter, injured, he added.
Earlier in the day, Ainjibi Forum leaders told the press conference that the government has "destroyed the judiciary" and was using judges as "political activists".
"We are rejecting this judgement [conviction and sentencing of Tarique and Zubaida]. The anti-fascist movement cannot be stopped by filing cases, carrying out attacks, making people disappear, arrests and causing harassment," Kayser Kamal said in a written statement.
He said the forum will bring out flag processions on August 6 and stage sit-ins on August 8 on all BAR premises across the country protesting the verdict.
Similar scuffles had broken out on the SCBA premises between the pro-BNP and pro-AL lawyers twice after the annual election to the BAR association on March 15-16. The incidents caused chaos and injuries.
In the election, pro-ruling party lawyers won all 14 SCBA posts, including president and secretary.
Pro-BNP lawyers have been staging demonstrations on the SCBA office premises demanding a date be fixed for holding fresh polls to the association under an acceptable election conducting subcommittee.
In a counter move, AL-leaning lawyers have been holding "peace meetings" in front of the SCBA president's office room protesting snatching of ballots and vandalism by "pro-BNP lawyers" on the SCBA office premises during the polls on March 15.