Attorney general alarmed about "lawyers' link" to terror finance

Referring to Tuesday's arrest of three lawyers by Rapid Action Battalion in connection with financing Chittagong-based militant outfit Shaheed Hamja Brigade, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said such involvement was alarming.

"No lawyer has been held over such allegations before although people of other professions were arrested in connection with militancy and terrorism," he told journalists at his Supreme Court office.

He said whether they were guilty or not would be proven through investigations and trial as the arrest was based on preliminary evidence.

Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Shakila Farjana, 39, and Advocate Hasanuzzaman Liton, 30, and Judge Court lawyer Advocate Mahfuz Chowdhury Bapon, 25, were arrested in Dhanmondi area.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and BNP leader Khandaker Mahbub Hossain told journalists at his office that he did not believe there was any such involvement.

"If the allegations against them are proved, the Supreme Court Bar Association will not support them," he added.

Moreover a group of pro-BNP lawyers under SCBA's banner formed a human chain at the SCBA premises protesting the arrest.

Taimur Alam Khandker, Abed Raza, Golam Mohammad Chowdhury Alal, Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Mohammad Ali, among others, attended.