Barishal, Bangladesh – A dramatic showdown between lawyers and the judiciary has paralyzed court operations in this southern district, leaving ordinary citizens in distress. The arrest of District Bar Association President Sadiqur Rahman Lincoln and 11 colleagues has sparked a three-day boycott of judicial services, turning courthouses into ghost towns.
Plaintiffs who flocked to courts on Thursday morning departed dejectedly, their hopes dashed by locked doors and absent advocates. One such individual, Sabuj Hawladar, became the face of this human tragedy. Observed darting from one courtroom to another with his paperwork, Sabuj’s story underscores the mounting frustration.
In an emotional interview with The Daily Star, he detailed a case filed 3 months and 10 days prior under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act against three accused, one of whom – Akbar Ali Hawladar – remains on bail. Directed by the High Court to pursue relief at the lower court, Sabuj hit a wall.
‘I’ve been unable to file my bail petition because courts have been non-functional for three days straight,’ he lamented. With the submission window closing Sunday and the weekend ahead, Thursday marked his last chance – now lost.
Flashback to Tuesday: Under Lincoln’s leadership, a group of lawyers allegedly stormed the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s courtroom, causing damage captured on CCTV and widely shared online. Charged under the Speedy Trial Act for vandalism and judge intimidation, the case was lodged by bench assistant Rajib Majumdar. Lincoln was swiftly detained.
Protesters escalated demands Thursday, insisting on immediate bail and case withdrawal, vowing perpetual shutdown otherwise. ‘Litigants suffer, but so do we amid this injustice,’ one lawyer confided anonymously to The Daily Star.
This impasse highlights deeper tensions within Bangladesh’s legal fraternity. Barishal’s 72-hour court blackout has stalled countless proceedings – from urgent bails to civil suits – amplifying public discontent. As stakeholders dig in, the human cost mounts, with vulnerable citizens paying the price for institutional discord. Will cooler heads prevail before irreparable damage is done?