Pro-AL PPs lock offices in Rajshahi

Some pro-Awami League public prosecutors yesterday kept three offices of public and general prosecutors in Rajshahi shut for five hours following internal disputes over fresh appointment of prosecutors.

Around 15 lawyers locked the offices of general and public prosecutors for Rajshahi metropolitan courts around 9:30am, said Sub-Inspector of Rajpara Police Station Shamimuddin Khan.  

They opened the offices around 2:30pm at the request of AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, former mayor and general secretary of AL, city unit, he added.

According to senior lawyers, the demonstrating prosecutors, and the general prosecutor and other PPs sent separate lists of candidates to the law ministry for appointment of prosecutors to 78 posts.

The lawyers locked the offices after hearing a rumour that their list was disregarded and that some of them might not be reappointed, they added.

“We locked the offices as a token protest against tyranny and corruption among public and general prosecutors,” said Abdul Ohab James, who led the demonstration.

James, also secretary of pro-AL lawyers' association Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad, alleged that the general prosecutor and the district public prosecutor accepted bribes and recommended withdrawal of criminal cases filed against BNP and Jamaat leaders by identifying those cases as politically motivated ones.  

The demonstrating lawyers announced protest programmes for tomorrow and said they would wage tougher protests unless five prosecutors--the district general prosecutor, district PP, metropolitan PP and two special PPs for women and children repression prevention courts-- are removed by September 8.          

Contacted, Ibrahim Hossain, the district PP, denied the allegations, saying, “A handful of lawyers are falsely accusing others for fear of not getting reappointed for irregularities in their work.”