A human chain by Awami League-backed lawyers over vandalism in a courtroom in Barishal clashed with a rally formed to protest the aforementioned human chain.
Allegations have surfaced that banners belonging to the Awami League-backed lawyers were seized from the rally, and photographs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina were vandalised.
On Wednesday, at noon, several Awami League-affiliated lawyers, under the banner of the United Lawyers Coordination Council, held a human chain in front of the Supreme Court Bar Association premises. Lawyers Subrata Kunda, Chanchal Kumar Biswas, Kumar Debul Dey, and others were present.
They demanded justice for those involved in the vandalism of the courtroom in Barishal. At that time, BNP-supporting lawyers took out a protest march, circling the second floor and the ground floor of the bar building. The march included Gazi Kamrul Islam Sojal, Kazi Zainul Abedin, Tauhidur Rahman, and others.
At one point, the banner of the Coordination Council was seized from the marchers. Later, lawyers went to the room of former assistant secretary of the Bar Association and former law secretary of the Awami League, Abu Saead Sagar, and vandalised photographs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina.
Abu Saead Sagar told TIMES, “A group of lawyers, jealous and fearful of the popularity of Awami League supporters in various bar associations across the country, vandalised the photographs of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina placed in my room. I condemn and protest this.”
Gazi Kamrul Islam Sojal, organising secretary of the Central Committee of the Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum, said, “A few lawyers supporting the banned Awami League made derogatory remarks about former prime minister Khaleda Zia. General lawyers expressed anger in reaction to this incident. The vandalism of photographs did not occur.”
