The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a platform of pro-BNP lawyers, on Monday served show-cause notices on four of its members for allegedly misbehaving with a magistrate during a bail hearing at the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.
Those show-caused include Dhaka Bar Association unit convener Khurshed Alam, forum members SM Elias Hawlader and Mohammad Zabed, and sub-general secretary Abdul Khaleq Milon.
They have been asked to explain within three days why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for their reported misconduct in court on May 17.
The notices, signed by the forum’s president, Zainul Abedin and secretary general Kayser Kamal, stated that the lawyers’ behaviour was ‘unwarranted and unprofessional’ and brought disrepute to the party after footage of the incident circulated on electronic and social media platforms.
According to a leaked video of the court’s proceedings, the lawyers were seen shouting at senior judicial magistrate Mohammad Zunaid, thumping the bench, and calling him a ‘broker of the deposed Awami League.’
They reportedly threatened the magistrate and declared that he had no right to sit in court unless the government was ousted through their movement for 17 years.
The incident occurred after the magistrate rejected a bail petition.
The lawyers, led by Khurshed Alam, demanded the magistrate immediately recall his order and set a day for holding further hearing.
Despite the heated exchange, the magistrate attempted to de-escalate the situation and advised the lawyers to move the bail application before the acting Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court if they felt aggrieved.