Follow HC order banning meeting, procession on court premises, SC asks lawyers

The Appellate Division on Wednesday directed the lawyers to strictly follow the 2005 High Court order not to hold meetings and bring out processions on court premises.

A four-member bench of the division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order.

The court fixed October 19 for the hearing on contempt of court petition against seven pro-BNP lawyers who participated in demonstrations on the Supreme Court premises demanding the resignation of two judges.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said, “No form of processions, gatherings, or distribution of leaflets of will be permitted on any court premises across the nation, including the Supreme Court. From now, it will be considered as contempt of court if the 2005 order is not abide by the lawyers.”

However, he clarified that the order would not applicable for the seven pro-BNP lawyers.

Pro-BNP lawyers have been staging protests demanding the resignation of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique after they reportedly said ‘judges are oath-bound politicians’ while addressing a discussion on 15th  August.

Lawyer Md. Nazmul Huda submitted a petition to the Supreme Court seeking action against them for contempt of court.

The seven pro-BNP lawyers are Barrister Kayser Kamal, secretary general of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum and legal affairs secretary of BNP; former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali, president of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum; Advocate Fahima Nasreen Munni, member of executive committee of BNP; Advocate Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, president of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum‍‍`s Supreme Court branch; Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal, former secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association; Advocate Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan, former assistant secretary of  Supreme Court Bar Association; and Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum‍‍`s Supreme Court branch.

The High Court bench of Justice MA Matin and Justice AFM Abdur Rahman had ordered in 2005 that no rallies or processions against Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice, is permitted  on the court premises. Carrying placards was also prohibited.

The  order also said that no lawyer should be obstructed from carrying out their duties through these activities.