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Published : 07 Apr 2026, 07:38 PM
A hearing for former speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at a Dhaka court has descended into chaos, as lawyers erupted in uproar, forcing the magistrate to intervene and order journalists out of the courtroom.
The incident unfolded at the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana.
Before the lawyers’ disruption, the court rejected requests for both a two-day remand and bail, ordering the former speaker directly to jail.
Shirin Sharmin, arrested early Tuesday in her Dhanmondi residence, was brought to the courtroom at 3:15pm.
The chamber quickly filled to capacity. Minutes later, Magistrate Rana entered, and Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi presented arguments in favour of remand, while defence lawyers Kawsar Ebeny and ABM Hamidul Mishbah demanded its dismissal and requested bail.
After rejecting both applications, lawyers supporting the accused erupted in slogans and disorder.
Control was initially lost, prompting the magistrate to express frustration at journalists present and order them removed from the chamber.
Faruq was seen trying to restore order.
Star News reporter Taslim Hossain Roni, present at the hearing, said: “We were performing our duties amid ongoing chaos when the magistrate suddenly turned against the journalists, ordering us out. The episode left us shocked.”
Following the hearing, Shirin Sharmin was returned to the court lock-up around 3:40pm.
In the commotion, pro-Awami League lawyers shouted slogans including “Joy Bangla”, causing brief altercations with BNP-aligned legal teams before calm returned.
The case stems from the July 2024 protests, when demonstrators at Azimpur Bus Stand were attacked with weapons, leaving one victim, known only as Ashraful, shot in the eye and hospitalised.
On May 25, 2025, Ashraful filed cases naming former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 130 others, plus 115–120 unknown individuals.
Shirin Sharmin, first elected to the reserved women’s seat in 2009, later served as state minister for women and children’s affairs.
After the death of former president Zillur Rahman, she assumed the speaker’s position and became Bangladesh’s first female speaker on Apr 30, 2013, serving three consecutive terms.
