Demanding resignation of chief justice: SC suspends enrolment of barrister

The Supreme Court today suspended enrolment of Barrister Muhammad Ashraful Islam as a lawyer until further order for demanding resignation of the chief justice through a Facebook post.

The apex court directed Ashraful not to practice law before the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the SC during this period.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain also summoned Ashraful, directing him to appear before the court at 9:30am on August 8, to explain his conduct.

The apex court came up with the order on a suo moto (voluntary) move after Attorney General AM Amin Uddin placed Ashraful's Facebook status before the court.

At the same time, the SC ordered Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission to immediately remove the Facebook post by Ashraful and to block him from the social site.

Justice M Imman Ali, a senior member of the Appellate Division bench, said that Ashraful has attacked the chief justice and the Supreme Court through the Facebook post because, such post is amount to no-confidence in the court and is contempt of court.

Contacted, Ashraful told The Daily Star that he posted a status from his Facebook account on Wednesday, seeking resignation of the chief justice as he did not take necessary steps to give the opportunity to lawyers like him to move cases virtually before the court during lockdown and therefore, their families have been facing financial crisis.

Ashraful said he will appear before the apex court on August 8 and explain his conduct to the top court.