Dhaka: A court here has exempted 66 pro-BNP lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, from charges in a case related to an alleged attack on policemen during a procession in the capital in 2023. The order was passed by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Imran Ahammed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, CMM court’s Kotwali Police Station general registration officer (GRO) sub-inspector (SI) Al Amin confirmed the exemption. The case was initially filed by Kotwali Police Station SI Md Shahbuddin Hawlader on September 12, 2023. However, after a thorough investigation, SI Mohammad Wali Ullah filed a final report on October 10, 2024, stating no evidence was found against the 66 lawyers. Consequently, the court accepted this report and issued the exemption order on November 3.
Among the prominent lawyers exempted from charges are BNP’s legal affairs secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Advocate Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Advocate Md Omar Faruk Faruki, and Advocate Qamrul
Islam Sazal. The case documents indicated that on September 12, 2023, the accused lawyers gathered in front of the Dhaka Bar Association building under the banner of United Lawyers’ Front, chanting anti-government slogans. The procession, which reached Johnson Road, was requested by police to disperse to alleviate traffic congestion.
Police alleged that during the incident, the lawyers began throwing brickbats and using bamboo sticks against the law enforcers. However, the investigation found insufficient evidence to support these claims, leading to the dismissal of charges against the lawyers involved.