Judicial Service Association demand punishment for lawyers accused of harassing judge over bail rejection

The Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA) has demanded exemplary punishment, including the cancellation of licences, for five lawyers accused of harassing a Dhaka court judge after he denied bail in a case.

The association, which represents subordinate court judges, issued a statement today (19 May), signed by its President Md Amirul Islam and General Secretary Mohammed Mazharul Islam.

The statement said that if effective action is not taken against the lawyers within three working days, the association would initiate strong measures in coordination with judges across all district courts.

The incident occurred on Saturday (17 May) at noon during a bail hearing in the case GR 156/25 filed with Keraniganj Model Police Station.

The alleged harassment took place in the courtroom of Dhaka's Judicial Magistrate Court No. 1, after the presiding judge rejected the bail petition.

According to the statement and video footage, defence lawyers Khorshed Alam, Abdul Khalek Milon, Md Jabed, Md Elias, and Md Zahirul reacted aggressively following the court's decision.

The statement described their behaviour as "extremely arrogant, contemptuous, and violent."

The statement said that the lawyers disrupted court proceedings by shouting, making obscene and indecent remarks, throwing the court's cause list, and displaying disrespect towards the judge.

At one stage, the situation escalated to such a degree that the judge was compelled to leave the courtroom.

Lawyer Khorshed Alam, while pointing at a document, reportedly shouted, "Date of incident, time of incident, place of incident are the same – two cases (different plaintiffs); is this even possible?"

Lawyer Abdul Khalek Milon allegedly told the judge, "Listen sir, it might sound bad to say now, you are sitting in this chair today because of us."

Another lawyer, Md Jabed, urged the judge to set a new date for a second bail hearing, saying, "We will file another bail application. You keep it for hearing tomorrow."

When the judge advised them to follow legal procedures and move the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court with a special put-up application, the lawyers reportedly became more aggressive.

According to the association, they used obscene slurs and accused the judge of being an "agent of the Awami League" and a "cohort of fascism."

"This incident is not just an insult to one judge, but a direct threat to the judiciary, the rule of law, and the very structure of an independent judicial system," the statement read.

The statement went on to say that creating disorder in the courtroom, threatening and insulting a judge, and disrupting judicial proceedings are criminal offences under sections 228 and 353 of the Penal Code, 1860. Such actions, it said, aim to bypass the judicial process through political pressure and muscle power.

"This is an organised, intentional, and malicious attempt to weaken the foundation of the state," the association said.

It further warned that the independence and security of judges are under serious threat, which "cannot be accepted in a civilised, democratic, and law-governed country."

The association also described the incident as a "conspiratorial act" against the independent judiciary, adding that it poses a challenge to the roadmap for judicial reform announced by the Chief Justice.