Pro-BNP lawyers boycott two Barishal courts over bail for AL leaders

Pro-BNP lawyers in Barishal have boycotted two courts protesting the granting of bail to Awami League leaders, whom they described as "associates of the 'fascist' regime".

Members of the Nationalist Lawyers' Forum began the boycott of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Court and the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

“These two courts have been granting bail to individuals whose petitions were previously rejected by the High Court and the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Barishal,” alleged Abul Kalam Azad Emon, member secretary of the district unit of the forum.

"High-ranking officials of the former fascist government are securing bail. Such releases will put the current government at risk," he added.

Outside the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court, the lawyers said they resorted to the boycott after failing to receive a satisfactory response from the judges.

The speakers cited the bail granted on Monday to Talukder Mohammad Yunus, general secretary of the Barishal district Awami League, as "unethical".

The lawyers demanded that the two judges be withdrawn, accusing them of attempting to destabilise the political situation.

"We urge the law ministry to take departmental action against them after reviewing their backgrounds and appointment records," said Dulal Molla, a lawyer.

Kamrul Islam, a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court clerk, said that the judicial proceedings remained uninterrupted despite the boycott.