Judge injures female trainee lawyer by throwing paperweight during court proceedings

A trainee lawyer, Sabiha Sultana, was injured after being struck by a paperweight thrown by a judge during court proceedings at the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Gopalganj. The incident occurred today (22 July) in the court of the Second Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Confirming the incident, Public Prosecutor and General Secretary of the District Bar Association, Advocate MA Alam Selim, said the matter had been reported to the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

According to eyewitnesses, loud commotion broke out in the courtroom while proceedings were underway. Judicial Magistrate Sujon Mia repeatedly instructed those present to remain quiet, but when the situation failed to improve, he reportedly became enraged and threw a paperweight from the bench. The object struck trainee lawyer Sabiha Sultana directly on the head, injuring her.

People present at the scene rushed to her aid and took her, bleeding, to Gopalganj Medical College Hospital, where she was admitted for treatment.

Lawyers expressed outrage over the incident, describing the judge's conduct in a courtroom as deeply regrettable and unprecedented.

Eyewitness lawyer Khadija Khanam Lipi said, "I was conducting a hearing in the courtroom when some people at the back began talking loudly. Judge Sujon Mia repeatedly asked everyone to remain silent. At one point, he became angry and threw the paperweight in front of him, which hit one of our trainee lawyers directly on the forehead. 

"He is always angry, and we are always afraid whenever we appear before him. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable from a judge."

Advocate Sohag Samajdar alleged that the judge had previously behaved discourteously and inappropriately with senior lawyers as well.

"There has been discussion and criticism among lawyers over his conduct before, but there has been no change. Today, a trainee lawyer was injured after being hit by the paperweight he threw," he said.