Barishal Bar president among 11 granted bail in courtroom vandalism case
Of the 12 named accused, one was sent to jail
A Barishal court has granted bail to Barishal District Bar Association President Sadiqur Rahman Linkon, who was arrested in a case filed over vandalism in the courtroom of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Barishal and obstruction of court proceedings.
Ten other lawyers named in the same case were also granted bail. However, another accused, Advocate Mizanur Rahman, was sent to jail.
Judge Mirajul Islam Russell of the Barishal Speedy Trial Tribunal passed the order this (2 March) afternoon.
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Confirming the matter, lawyer Abul Kalam Azad said the accused surrendered before the court and sought bail. He described the case as "false".
"The court granted bail to 11 people, including the arrested Bar Association President Sadiqur Rahman Linkon. However, Mizanur Rahman was sent to jail," he said.
Expressing satisfaction with the order, he added that they would take legal steps to secure Mizanur Rahman's release.
Those granted bail include Barishal District Bar Association General Secretary Mirza Riazul Islam; Public Prosecutor of the Barishal District and Sessions Judge's Court Abul Kalam Azad; Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court Public Prosecutor and convenor of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum Nazim Uddin Panna; former president of the Nationalist Lawyers Association Mohsin Montu; Abdul Malek; Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Assistant Public Prosecutor Sayeed Chowdhury; Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Assistant Public Prosecutor Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Babul; Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court Assistant Public Prosecutor and former president of Barishal District Chhatra Dal Tarek Al Imran; Nationalist Lawyers Forum Member Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Iman; and Basir Uddin Sabuj.
Earlier, on 25 February, Linkon was arrested from a court chamber.
The case was filed over an incident last Tuesday at the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, where several lawyers, including the Bar Association president, allegedly entered the courtroom, vandalised it and forced the judge to leave his chair after bail was granted to Talukdar Mohammad Yunus, former MP and Barishal district general secretary of the Awami League.
Video footage of the incident later circulated on various platforms, drawing widespread criticism.
Following the incident, the court's bench assistant Rajib Majumdar filed a case naming 12 people, including the Bar Association president as the prime accused, along with several unnamed others.
Separately, the High Court has issued a rule against nine lawyers over contempt of court. An application has also been filed seeking cancellation of the licences of the 12 accused lawyers.
