A section of pro-BNP lawyers staged a protest rally on Tuesday demanding the removal of 113 newly appointed law officers at the Attorney General’s Office.
The protesters alleged that these appointees have political links to Awami League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP. The demonstration, held in front of Attorney General’s Office in Dhaka, targeted the recent recruitment of 265 law officers.
The lawyers claimed that 30 Deputy Attorneys General (DAGs) and 83 Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) have been preliminarily identified as being associated with “Awami fascism,” Jamaat, and NCP.
The protesters alleged that the appointments were made based on political identity, financial transactions, and special favours rather than professional competence or experience. They further added that the Attorney General played a role in these controversial appointments.
Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, organising secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF), confirmed the allegations of Awami League-linked individuals receiving appointments.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Sajal said many of the new appointees had never been active in nationalist politics and included supporters of Awami League and Jamaat.
He added that while he did not have the exact numbers, any appointment made through corruption is detrimental to the organisation and must be addressed by those involved in the process.
During the rally, speakers argued that law officers representing the state should be chosen based on professional skill, experience, and their role in past movements – criteria they claim were ignored in this instance.
They called for the cancellation of these “controversial” appointments and the recruitment of qualified lawyers who were active in recent struggles.
Some speakers went further, demanding the resignation of Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal, asserting that there is no place for “fascists or corrupt individuals” in his office.
One speaker said if it did not take long to remove Sheikh Hasina from power, the downfall of the Attorney General would also be swift.
The dispute follows two notifications issued on 30 July by Solicitor Wing of the Law and Justice Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
These notifications cancelled all previous appointments of Deputy Attorneys General and Assistant Attorneys General, replacing them with 86 new DAGs and 179 new AAGs.
Pro-BNP lawyers, under the banner of BJAF, began their protests on 2 and 3 August, with Tuesday’s rally serving as a continuation of their movement. They highlighted that many active lawyers who had faced imprisonment and persecution in the past were overlooked in favour of those linked to Awami League.
The protesters announced a leaflet distribution programme for 6 August to further their demands.
The rally was moderated by Advocate Sharif U Ahmed. Other speakers included Justice Faisal Mahmud Faizee, and Advocates AM Showkatul Haque, Ayub Ali Ashrafi, Rezaul Karim, Shahriar Kakon, Rashida Alim Oishee, Shahina Sultana, Anwara Shikha, Sarwar Akram Khan, Ohidul Islam Opu, Amirul Islam Shanu, Sabina Yasmin Lipi, Abdullah Al Baki, Masud Rana, ABM Ibrahim Khalil, Kohinoor Papri, Habibur Rahman, Anisur Rahman Khan, and Abdus Samad, among others.
