Journalists 'harassed by Pro-BNP lawyers' at Dhaka court premises

A group of journalists today allegedly faced harassment from pro-BNP lawyers during a press briefing at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court (CMM) in Dhaka yesterday.

The incident followed the remand hearing of former lawmaker and singer Momtaz Begum.

Multiple witnesses reported that the lawyers confronted and threatened the journalists.

A video of the incident later went viral on social media.

The lawyer also allegedly obstruct the journalists present from gathering information on the hearing inside the courtroom around 3:00pm.

"Today Momtaz Begum was escorted into a crammed courtroom of the CMM Court amid tight security for the remand hearing in a murder case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. We entered the courtroom to cover it," a journalist of a Bangla national daily told The Daily Star.

"At that time, a pro-BNP lawyers' leader Mahbub Alam Akter asked me why we [journalists] entered the courtroom. Some of his fellow lawyers echoed him. In addition, they tried to create a mob-like situation there," he said.

Following the court session, journalists gathered near the CMM court dais for a press briefing.

A scuffle broke out over standing space in front of cameras, escalating tensions.

Television journalists Rabbi Hossain (Ekhon TV) and Asif Mahmud Siam (Somoy TV) urged the lawyers to maintain order. This reportedly angered Mahbub Alam Akter, Abul Kalam Azad, and other pro-BNP lawyers, who then resorted to threats, verbal abuse, and physical harassment.

Some lawyers attempted to defuse the situation, but tensions persisted.

Journalist Rabbi Hossain said, "When a few of us entered the courtroom, the lawyers questioned why journalists were present. I told them we were there to report the news.

"After the hearing ended, we politely asked the lawyers to stand in front of the dais. Suddenly, they became furious at us. At one point, they started pushing and shoving. One of them, identifying himself as a pro-BNP lawyer, threatened me..."

Another journalist, Siam, said Mahbub Alam along with another lawyer were hurling abuses at journalists. "He, along with several other lawyers, even lunged at me..."

Mahbub Alam Akhter denied the allegations brought against him. "This was a misunderstanding between two parties."

Attempts to contact Abul Kalam Azad for comments remained unsuccessful.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi did not respond to calls as of 10:30pm.

Meanwhile, Court Reporters' Unity (CRU) condemned the incident, urging authorities to take necessary action.

CRU President Liton Mahmud and General Secretary Mamun Khan called for appropriate action against those responsible.