Bangladesh Court Orders Detention of 70 Lawyers Over Attempted Murder Charges

A Bangladesh court has ordered the detention of 70 lawyers linked to the former ruling Awami League party, following their involvement in a violent confrontation that escalated into an attempted murder case. The incident, which occurred on the premises of the Dhaka courthouse, involved serious allegations of assault and attempted murder among the legal community.

The defendants, many of whom are senior advocates, were accused of attempting to kill fellow lawyers during last year’s political turmoil, particularly after the student-led uprising that resulted in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Khorshed Alam, a lawyer representing a private party who filed the case, confirmed the details, describing the scale of the violence as unprecedented within the legal community.

“I have never witnessed such an incident where lawyers assaulted each other on the court premises, nor have I seen so many taken into custody at once,” Alam said. The detention order was issued after an investigation into the violent altercations, which took place amidst the political chaos in Bangladesh.

While most of the detained lawyers are affiliated with the Awami League, a few individuals received bail, including one former president of the bar association and nine women lawyers, according to the court’s decision. These developments come just months after the student-led protests ousted Hasina from office in August 2024, with massive public unrest pushing her to seek refuge in India. Bangladesh has requested Hasina’s extradition from India to face charges related to the deaths of numerous protesters during the uprising.

Lutfor Rahman, who represents a group of the accused lawyers, indicated that his clients had been on bail for eight weeks and appeared in court seeking an extension. Rahman noted that the case against the lawyers was filed immediately following the fall of Hasina’s government. “A lawyer, who is also an executive committee member of the bar association, filed the case against fellow lawyers,” he explained.

This incident is part of a larger series of legal and political struggles in Bangladesh following the events that unfolded after Hasina’s departure. In November 2024, another high-profile case was filed by the family of slain lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was murdered by violent protesters. Alif’s death occurred during a rally organized by Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag. The murder has sparked additional controversy over political and religious tensions within the country.