Chaos erupted in Barishal’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday when BNP-aligned lawyers stormed the courtroom, shoving benches, shouting, and disrupting ongoing proceedings in protest against the granting of bail to a senior Awami League leader.
The incident, captured on CCTV and widely circulated on social media, underscores a recurring pattern of mob-like interference in the judiciary by BNP supporters since the political shift in August 2024.
The disturbance occurred around 2:39pm during a hearing presided over by Magistrate SM Shariatullah. Video footage shows a group of lawyers, led by Barishal District Lawyers’ Association President Sadikur Rahman (Lincoln), bursting through the doors, yelling, pointing fingers at the judge, and physically pushing courtroom benches and furniture.
The disruption forced a halt to proceedings, with only the judge, court registrar, and a few police constables present at the time.
The outburst stemmed from the previous day’s bail granted to Talukder Mohammad Yunus, Barishal district Awami League general secretary, former MP for Barishal-1 and Barishal-2, and ex-president of the district bar association. Yunus surrendered in a 2017 case involving alleged attacks on BNP activists (filed in 2024) and was granted bail despite opposition from state lawyers.
BNP-aligned lawyers had boycotted the Chief Metropolitan and Additional Chief Metropolitan Courts since morning, demanding the judge’s removal and bail cancellation, alleging corruption and favouritism.
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Sadikur Rahman later defended the action, claiming the bail involved “30-40 lakh taka” in bribes and that the judge had pre-decided the outcome despite requests to deny it. He said the group entered to protest after failed negotiations, and the bench-pushing was incidental amid the agitation. The matter was later discussed with the metropolitan sessions judge, and lawyers plan to file for bail revocation.
Public Prosecutor Abul Kalam Azad noted that lawyers had requested halting proceedings during the boycott, leading to suspension, though he was unsure who specifically disarranged the furniture. Kotwali Model Police OC Mamun Al Islam said police were deployed but reported no major untoward incident inside the court.
Senior journalist and political analyst Probir Kumar Sarker said that this incident is not isolated. Since the August 2024 uprising that toppled the Awami League government, BNP- and Jamaat-affiliated lawyers and supporters have occupied key positions in the courts and have repeatedly disrupted courts nationwide when Awami League figures receive bail or favourable rulings. Attacks on the accused, boycotts, protests demanding judge removals, and courtroom invasions have become common, often framed as resistance to “fascist remnants” but criticised as mobocracy undermining judicial independence.
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The interim period (August 2024โFebruary 2026), where BNP was a key stakeholder alongside civil society and Jamaat-e-Islami under Muhammad Yunus, saw widespread allegations of mob rule in institutions, including courts. Reports highlight forced resignations, pressure on judges, and politicised interference, contributing to the eroded rule of law.
The BNP-led government, in power since February 17, now faces scrutiny over whether it will curb such disruptions or allow them to persist. Critics argue this reflects a continuation of vendetta-driven interference rather than reform, further eroding public trust in the judiciary amid ongoing economic and social challenges.
As videos spread, the Barisal incident has reignited debate: Is the judiciary being held hostage to political vengeance, or is it legitimate pushback against perceived bias? For many, it signals more serious threats to institutional integrity in post-uprising Bangladesh.
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