Several rounds of scuffles and hand-to-hand fights broke out between two factions of pro-BNP lawyers at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) building on Tuesday evening following day-long tensions, leaving three lawyers injured.
The injured lawyers have been identified as Ibrahim Khalil, Jafar Ahmed, and Anisuzzaman Raihan, all of whom received first aid.
According to eyewitnesses, the trouble began after 6pm in front of the association’s Shaheed Shafiur Rahman Auditorium, starting with an altercation that quickly escalated into hand-to-hand fighting.
Although the situation temporarily calmed down after some pushing and shoving, tension flared up again shortly afterwards.
Eyewitnesses stated that around 6pm, a verbal dispute between a Deputy Attorney General and lawyer Jafar Ahmed turned physical. About 15 minutes later, at around 6:15 pm, lawyer Ibrahim Khalil was assaulted by several lawyers near the association’s badminton court.
Shortly after, the two factions of pro-BNP lawyers engaged in a full-blown clash.
Earlier, a group of lawyers reportedly attacked the SCBA office chamber of Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal.
The situation was eventually brought under control after several senior lawyers intervened. Police and plainclothes intelligence personnel were subsequently seen deployed at the SCBA building on Tuesday evening.
It remains unknown whether any case has been filed in connection with the incident.
Root of the conflict
The clash comes at a time when internal divisions among pro-BNP lawyers over the appointment of law officers at the Attorney General’s office have become public.
Tuesday evening’s incident marked the first time the ongoing dispute erupted into public hand-to-hand fighting and physical clashes.
The underlying tension had already manifested earlier in the day. At around 1:30pm on Tuesday, tension arose between the two groups over a programme marking the 48th founding anniversary of the BNP.
Eyewitnesses reported that the two factions stood face-to-face, chanting slogans, and eventually engaged in shoving.
According to eyewitnesses among the lawyers, pro-BNP lawyers working as deputy attorneys general and assistant attorneys general had brought out a procession to mark the party’s founding anniversary.
As the procession moved from the Attorney General’s office toward the SCBA building, they got into an altercation with another faction of pro-BNP lawyers already stationed there, who claimed they were deprived of appointments.
Both sides chanted slogans supporting their respective positions, leading to pushing and shoving as tempers flared.
The conflict is rooted in long-standing resentment over the appointment of law officers. On 30 July, the government cancelled all previous appointments of law officers and appointed 265 new law officers.
Following this, a section of the excluded law officers and aspirants who did not secure appointments began protesting.
They alleged that the new appointees included individuals associated with various political parties, including the Awami League and Jamaat. The aggrieved lawyers have staged several demonstrations in front of the Attorney General’s office in the past.
Reactions and concerns
The violence has caused unease among general lawyers at the Supreme Court. Some observed that such public clashes between lawyers affiliated with a political party within six months of coming to power send a negative message.
They expressed particular discomfort that the incident occurred on the founding anniversary of the BNP.
Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Organising Secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, termed the incident unfortunate. “I have no words to express. This happened due to youthful exuberance,” he said.
He also raised questions about law officers working at the Attorney General’s office participating in political party programmes.
“Can law officers working at the Attorney General’s office join party programmes? They are state officers. Is this an attempt to put the government and the party in question?” he asked.
