Several litigants in Bangladesh’s Barishal district are facing difficulties accessing judicial services due to a three-day suspension of court activities. This suspension comes in protest over the arrest of the district bar association and a case filed against 12 lawyers. As a result, courts, including the District and Sessions Judge’s Court, have not been operational, leaving litigants without progress in their cases.
One of the litigants, Sabuj Hawlader, was observed moving between courtrooms carrying his case documents until noon. He highlighted that a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act was filed against three individuals, including Akbar Ali Hawlader, who is currently out on bail. Despite efforts to seek bail, the non-functioning courts have hindered the filing of the bail petition, with the application deadline approaching on Sunday.
The lawyers reported that a case was lodged under the Speedy Trial Act against the President of the Barishal District Bar Association, Sadiqur Rahman Linkon, and 11 other lawyers for courtroom vandalism and intimidating a judge. The unrest escalated when a group of lawyers, allegedly led by Linkon, vandalized a courtroom, leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Protesting lawyers demanded his immediate release on bail, threatening to prolong the suspension of court activities until their demands are met.
