Several senior lawyers known for their affiliation with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have come under criticism on social media for representing a businessman linked to the ruling Awami League, who was recently barred from leaving the country at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to pending criminal cases.
The lawyers including former speaker and BNP leader Jamiruddin Sircar, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Nasir Uddin Ashim, and Kayser Kamal appeared in court on behalf of Sheikh Badol Ahmed, former general secretary of the German unit of the Awami League and a shareholder of Javan Hotel in Tongi in Gazipur.
Badol was named in at least four criminal cases, including one under the Special Powers Act related to the alleged recovery of four bottles of liquor. The case was filed with Uttara police station on November 4, 2024 during his stay abroad. He voluntarily returned to Bangladesh and sought anticipatory bail from the High Court.
BNP international affairs secretary Nasir Uddin told 抖阴精品 that the FIR in the liquor case did not identify Badol as an AL leader. 鈥楴owhere in the case document is his political affiliation mentioned,鈥� he said.
Ashim said that police later returned the liquor to the restaurant as it was legal.
Lawyer Nasir Uddin Ashim noted that the case was not related to any July-August mass uprising incidents. 鈥楤adol came back to the country on his own to face the court,鈥� he said, adding that he had turned down several cases involving AL leaders in the past.
Kayser Kamal, secretary general of BNP鈥檚 lawyers鈥� forum and senior counsel in a writ petition filed by Badol seeking permission to travel abroad, claimed that he was unaware of Badol鈥檚 political ties when taking up the case.
鈥業f the matter was of such importance, why didn鈥檛 the government appeal against the High Court鈥檚 April 25 directive allowing him to travel?鈥� he asked.
In court, Kamal argued that Badol, a German citizen, was falsely implicated and had already secured anticipatory bail in all four cases pending investigation.
He was assisted by pro-BNP lawyers Abdullah Al Mamun, HM Shanjid Siddique, and Tawhid Uddin Shepon.
Shanjid said that Shepon had initially taken up Badol鈥檚 cases. 鈥楬e cannot leave the country now because the Special Branch has sought an opinion from the Attorney General鈥檚 Office, which is still pending,鈥� he added.
Badol, a resident of Khalishpur in Khulna, owns multiple high-rise properties in Dhaka and is considered a prominent figure in the Khulna political landscape.
Deputy attorneys general Mohammad Osman Chowdhury and Akhtar Hossain Md Abdul Wahab represented the state in the writ hearing.
Osman told 抖阴精品 he was not present in court when the matter was reportedly heard.
Deputy attorney general Akhtar Hossain Md Abdul Wahab said that the state placed the facts of the case before the court and emphasised that it was the petitioner鈥檚 responsibility to fully disclose all relevant information about the client.
Barrister Kayser Kamal argued in court that Badol was a businessman, not involved in any political activity.
Additional attorney general Arshadur Rouf told 抖阴精品 that the government had appealed against the High Court order permitting Badol to travel abroad, and the matter was now awaiting hearing before the Appellate Division.
Three other cases against Badol relates to his business related dispute on the allegation of fraudulence.
