Vandalism at Court: 15 lawyers jailed

A court yesterday jailed 15 lawyers including the general secretary of Satkhira District Bar Association for going on the rampage at Satkhira Women and Children Repression Prevention Court in 2013.

Judge Md Habibullah Mahmud of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Satkhira jailed each of them for two and a half years and fined them each Tk 5,000, in default of which they would have to spend six more months behind bars.

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The lawyers handed down punishment include former president of the district bar advocate Shah Alam, former general secretary advocate Abdus Sattar, General Secretary advocate Tozammel Hossain Toza and advocate Mostafa Asaduzzaman.

The lawyers appealed against the verdict yesterday afternoon and the Court of District and Sessions Judge granted them all an interim bail, said Public Prosecutor Abdul Gani.

Advocates Sarder Saif and Shaheduzzaman have been acquitted in the case.

Court sources said equipped with sticks, the convicted lawyers along with court staff on November 18, 2013 ransacked the doors and windows of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal and created panic among justice-seekers.

Tribunal Judge Md Fakhruddin filed a case against 17 lawyers with Sadar police the same day.

Sub-inspector SM Humayun Kabir investigated the incident and pressed charges against the 17 lawyers. The court framed charges against them on August 3, 2014.