Ruckus in courtroom, scuffle outside during Akhtaruzzaman’s bail hearing

A ruckus broke out between pro-BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawyers on Sunday, with the two sides also engaging in a scuffle outside the courtroom.

The incident took place during the hearing on Jamaat leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman’s bail petition and detention plea after his remand ended in a case filed over allegations of creating disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jamshed Alam later rejected his bail petition and ordered that the Jamaat leader be sent to jail after hearing arguments from both sides.

Earlier in the day, Akhtaruzzaman was brought to the courtroom amid tight security around 2:30pm for the hearing on his bail petition and the prosecution’s plea to send him to jail.

Around 2:40pm, an altercation broke out between BNP- and Jamaat-backed lawyers inside the courtroom, followed by pushing and shoving.

Amid the chaos, the judge left the courtroom, and the scuffle continued for several minutes.

Later, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi and defence lawyer Abdul Razzaq urged the lawyers to remain calm and help bring the situation under control.

The situation later spilled out of the courtroom, with the lawyers engaging in a heated exchange and scuffle on the road in front of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court premises.

The situation was brought under control after police intervened.