Lawyers stage angry protests

Angry lawyers marching streets in (top) Magura, (bottom left)Rangpur and (bottom right)Barisal yesterday protesting the bomb attacks on court compounds in Gazipur and Chittagong by JMB suicide squads that killed seven people. PHOTO: STAR

Lawyers irrespective of party affiliations marched streets hand in hand, chanting slogans in a spontaneous show of anger against the government's failure to protect life of citizens.

In some districts, lawyers announced protest programmes for several days, including court boycott, rallies and memorial meetings for those killed in the blasts.

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At rallies, the lawyers demanded resignation of the government, alleging that attackers are operating under the shelter of a partner in the ruling alliance, our correspondents reported.

Our Staff Correspondent reports from Sylhet: Lawyers in Sylhet boycotted courts and began a week-long agitation programme including wearing black badges and holding mourning processions and rallies.

The lawyers paraded the main streets of the city and held a rally at the Bar library Hall with Sylhet district Bar Association President AKM Shibli in the chair.

They strongly protested the repeated attacks on courts in the name of religious fundamentalism. They also blasted the government for its failure to punish the real culprits.

Our Barisal Correspondent reports: As the news of bomb attacks reached the court area by 10 am, agitated lawyers immediately decided to boycott courts while panicked judges rushed to the chamber of the District Judge to decide what to do.

All judicial activities were suspended and teams of Rapid Action Battalion and police cordoning the court compound and surrounding areas tightened their security measures. They immediately drove people from the court compound and restricted entry of outsiders.

The lawyers immediately brought out a procession condemning the blasts and killings and decrying government's lax security measures and failure to nab militants.

They expressed solidarity with the programs of hoisting black flags atop buildings in court the area and wearing black badges on Wednesday and a countrywide hartal on Thursday, declared by the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Our Staff Correspondent in Khulna reports: Lawyers in Khulna boycotted courts and brought out a procession in the city protesting bombs attacks by Islamist extremists in the country one after another.

At a rally held at the Khulna District Bar Association compound, speakers demanded resignation of the four-party alliance government for failing to contain terror attacks by suicide bombers of outlawed JMB. They accused Jamaat, a component of four-party alliance, of harbouring militant outfits from behind the screen.

Our Satkhira Correspondent reports: Boycotting courts, lawyers in Satkhira brought out a procession and held a rally in the town protesting the repeated bomb attacks and demanding resignation of the government for failing to arrest militants.

The militants are threatening the judiciary but no action has been taken against those responsible for the attacks, speakers at the rally said. They also threatened of tough agitation programs if the government failed to ensure security of judges and lawyers.

Our RU Correspondent reports: Political parties and lawyers brought out separate processions and held rallies in Rajshahi city and Rajshahi University campus yesterday protesting the bomb attacks.

At a protest layers' protest meeting held at the court premises, speakers said the BNP-led coalition government has to bear the responsibility for the lawyers' killing and all bomb attacks in the country as it 'patronises fundamentalist forces'.

Our Kushtia Correspondent reports: Lawyers In Kushtia, Meherpur and Jhenidah brought out processions ain the towns and held rallies protesting the bomb attacks.

In Kushtia a lawyers procession barricaded the Kushtia-Khulna highway for about an hour.

Taking to this correspondent over phone, some judges in Kushtia said they were feeling insecure. Some of them said they are thinking to go on leave for some days.

Gunmen will not be able to give them security, Kushtia District Judge Enayaet Ullah said.

Protests were also held in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Faridpur, Gopalaganj, Natrakona, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Jessore, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. Reports on protests were pouring in from districts when the story was compiled yesterday evening.