Bomb Attacks Halt Court Proceedings in Bangladesh

Text of report by Shakil Ahmed by Bangladeshi ATN TV on 29 November

[Newsreader] Court proceedings were stopped across the country [Bangladesh] as well as in Gazipur and Chittagong immediately after the bomb attacks. Lawyers in different places are protesting against the attacks, staging marches. Shakil Ahmed reports from Judge Court in the old part of Dhaka.

[Reporter] I am standing at the Judge Court premises right now; when I arrived here, I saw angry masses assembling in the area. There have been no court proceedings since this morning; demonstrations, protesting against the bomb attacks, one after another were carried out without any decision from anyone. Masses, irrespective of party affiliations, attending processions shouted slogans against militancy. At a post-rally meeting, lawyers strongly opined that the government’s security measures at court premises have failed. The angry lawyers also said that today’s attacks proved that securitymen are failing to protect lawyers and people.

We have also noticed that the march was divided into two separate groups. The pro-government lawyers’ demonstration said that the citizens have to come forward to stop these attacks more than the government. They also urged the masses to have a non-partisan attitude towards this and fight against terror.

Meanwhile, the pro-Awami League lawyers said today’s incidents prove that politics of Jamaat [Jamiat-i-Islami Bangladesh] has added fillip to the ongoing militancy. They also pointed out that the problem will not be resolved as long as Jamiat remains a partner of the government party.

People coming to the court house for different reasons are all waiting outside the gate. Court premises are off limits to the public. Those who are entering the premises are being cordoned. Members of all the security forces have been deployed in the area.

[Newsreader] Leaders of Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association have met the chief justice, asking him to summon the home secretary for an explanation. Later at a meeting, they demanded the resignation of Lutfuzzaman Babar, the state minister for home affairs.