Satkhira lawyers start court boycott today

They also will observe a two-hour token hunger strike from 10 am to 12 am today demanding cancellation of the decision.

The decisions were announced at a press conference by association leaders held yesterday at its office.

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In a written statement read out at the press conference, Bar Association General Secretary advocate Shah Alam said the government took the decision when over 11000 cases are pending with the judges' courts and another 14, 458 with the seven upazila magistrate courts for long.

Cases are being piled up due to shortage of judges and magistrates, he said.

He said, eleven posts of First Class Magistrate out of sanctioned 14 are lying vacant for last five years in the district, causing pile-up of cases and increasing sufferings of litigants.

The government should appoint judges and magistrates immediately to overcome the situation. Instead, it has decided to shift the judge's court, he said.

He alleged the court is being shifted due to a conspiracy by some vested quarters when the government is enacting new laws for speedy trial and disposal of cases.

Lawyers will launch a tougher agitation to resist the move, he said.

"If our demand is not met within June 18, We will announce a tougher agitation programme on June 19", he said.

Among others, Bar Association President Tapan Chakraborty, advocates Samsul Haque, Golam Mostafa, SM Haidar, AKM Shahidullah, Abu Bakar Siddique and Amjad Hossain were present at the press conference.