Lawyers of Chittagong have finally decided to attend court during shutdowns, ending a 26-year-old tradition.
Published : 03 Mar 2015, 03:44 PM
Pro BNP-Jamaat lawyers in Ctg prevent judges from holding hearings
They have taken this decision after weeklong parleys, marked by heated debates, processions and even fisticuffs.
Emerging from a meeting on Tuesday, Chittagong Lawyers' Association President Mazibul Haque and General Secretary Enamul Haque announced that they had decided in the meeting to attend court proceedings from 2pm.
President of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikka Jot Kabir Chowdhury also confirmed the decision.
Apart from leaders of the association, the meeting was also attended by its former president and general secretary.
The tradition had a paralysing effect in the functioning of courts in Chittagong during shutdowns.
On Sunday and Monday, judges had to leave the courtrooms without hearing any case due to strong objections from BNP-Jamaat supported lawyers.
However, on Tuesday, judges heard cases for some time.
In the meantime, lawyers loyal to the BNP-Jamaat and the Awami League supporters were engaged in heated arguments and scuffles at the Chittagong’s new court building in the morning.
BNP-Jamaat loyalists also held a rally in support of the blockade-shutdown on the court premises at 10am.
When lawyers, supporting Awami League, went there with a procession, both sides got involved in heated arguments.
bdnews24.com correspondent Mithun Choudhury reported from the scene that the two sides also got entangled in scuffles.
Senior lawyers, however, quickly intervened to bring the situation under control.
After that, leaders of the lawyers’ association went into a huddle where they decided to participate in court proceeding even during shutdowns.