The Bangladesh Judicial Service Association on Monday demanded exemplary punishment for five leaders of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum allegedly for misbehaving with a judicial magistrate during a bail hearing at the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on May 17.
The BJSA made the demand in a strongly worded statement signed by BJSA president Md Amirul Islam and secretary general Muhammad Mazharul Islam.
The association demanded the cancellation of the practicing licenses of the lawyers.
The association warned that it would launch nationwide protest programmes involving all district court judges if action was not taken within three days.
鈥楾he incident not only insulted the judiciary but also shook the very foundation of the country鈥檚 judicial system,鈥� the statement read.
The BJSA identified the accused lawyers as Khurshed Alam, Abdul Khaleq Milon, Mohammad Zabed, Mohammad Elias, and Mohammad Zahir.
According to the leaked courtroom video, the lawyers were seen shouting at senior judicial magistrate Mohammad Zunaid, thumping the bench, and calling him an 鈥榓gent of the deposed Awami League.鈥�
The lawyers allegedly threatened the magistrate, who was posted in Dhaka after the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, saying that he would have 鈥榥o right to sit in court鈥� if the AL regime was not overthrown through their political movement.
The confrontation followed the magistrate鈥檚 rejection of a bail petition.
Led by Khurshed Alam, the lawyers demanded an immediate reversal of the bail order and a rescheduling of the hearing.
Despite the agitation, the magistrate tried to defuse the situation calmly, advising the lawyers to move the bail plea before the acting Chief Judicial Magistrate鈥檚 Court if they were dissatisfied with his order.
On Sunday, the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum issued show-cause notices to four of its members, Dhaka Bar Association unit convener Khurshed Alam, forum members SM Elias Hawlader and Mohammad Zabed, and assistant general secretary Abdul Khaleq Milon, asking them to explain within three days why disciplinary action should not be taken for their alleged misconduct.
Signed by the Forum鈥檚 president Zainul Abedin and secretary general Kayser Kamal, the notice said that the lawyers鈥� actions were 鈥榰nwarranted, unprofessional, and damaging to the organisation鈥檚 image,鈥� especially after video footage of the incident went viral on electronic and social media.
