Clash with Police: 13 pro-BNP lawyers get anticipatory bail for eight weeks

The High Court on Monday granted eight weeks of anticipatory bail to 13 pro-BNP lawyers in a case filed in connection with a clash between pro-BNP lawyers and the police in Dhaka Judge Court area.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Jahangir Hossain and Justice Mohammad Showkat Ali Chowdhury passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by the accused pro-BNP lawyers.

The lawyers receiving bail are Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Barrister Kayser Kamal, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Mohammad Ali, Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Dewan Humayun Kabir Ripon, Al Faisal Siddiquee, Shahdat Hossain Adil, Russel Ahmed, Md Abdul Qaiyum, Mohidul Islam Shipon and Ashraf Jalal Khan.

The High Court bench also directed the accused lawyers to surrender before the lower court concerned within eight weeks in connection with the case.

Lawyers Zainul Abedin, Mohsin Rashid, Subrata Chowdhury and Mamun Mahbub represented the accused lawyers in court.

Earlier, a Dhaka court granted bail to 49 lawyers who were also accused in the case.

On September 12, hundreds of lawyers under the banner of the “United Lawyers’ Front,” an anti-govern ment lawyers’ group, took out a road march in Dhaka Judge Court area demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government, the removal of "self-proclaimed sworn politician" judges, and the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

During the road march, the police and the pro-BNP lawyers engaged in a clash, leaving at least 50 pro-BNP lawyers injured.

Later that night, the police filed a case against 66 people, including BNP's Joint Secretary General Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokan and Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kayser Kamal, accusing them of attacking the police during the road march.

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