Demonstration demanding the continuation of court proceedings in physical presence for a whole week

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A group of lawyers held protest rallies and marches against virtual proceedings and demands to continue court proceedings in the physical presence of lawyers every working day of the week. They held a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court Bar Association building on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, in consideration of the global energy situation, the Supreme Court administration said in a notification on April 20 that the court will be conducted in virtual presence in the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court every Wednesday and Thursday and in physical presence on other working days of the week.

According to the notification, this directive will come into effect from April 22 and will remain in force until further notice. According to this, judicial proceedings were held in virtual mode on April 22 and 23 in both divisions of the Supreme Court.

However, a group of lawyers formed a human chain on April 21, demanding to continue the court proceedings in the physical presence of lawyers on every working day of the week. Their banner read ‘Organized by: Members of the Supreme Court Bar’. In the previous series, a group of lawyers held a march and stand program with black flags on April 23. If the regular court does not open on that day, they announced to hold a sit-in program on April 28 (today Tuesday) at noon.

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Lawyers gathered in front of the association building this afternoon. They held a short rally and circled the association building. Later, the agitators went in front of the extended building of the High Court Division with a procession, held a briefing and announced the program along with collecting signatures. At that time, lawyers Syed Mamun Mahbub, Shah Ahmed Badal, M Ashraful Islam, Anisur Rahman Raihan, Ashraf Rahman etc. were present.

Senior lawyer Syed Mamun Mahbub raised three demands in the briefing. He said, ‘There will be no in camera trial in the High Court including the Appellate Division; Journalists should have access to the High Court and the Appellate Division. Democracy and the rule of law are linked to journalists’ access to courts. This includes Right to Information.…Journalists will need access to the Appellate Division and the High Court for the convenience of the Judiciary. If the real information is not given, rumors will spread, which is against the judiciary, democracy and the rule of law.

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association said that he and the committee met with the Chief Justice last Thursday and Syed Mamun Mahbub said, “…hopefully, maybe they will review that decision (conducting virtual activities). If the online court is held again tomorrow (tomorrow Wednesday), I will collect signatures in the association from one o’clock tomorrow. We want to give time. Even then, if it is not withdrawn, I will deliver the statement to the Chief Justice with the signatures of the lawyers from in front of the association’s president’s room on May 5.