Lawyers condemn bombings on court premises

In a joint statement last night, the lawyers demanded immediate and effective measures to ensure security for all citizens, especially for the judges, lawyers and all those involved in the delivery of justice.

"We are outraged at the continuous denial by those in high office of the grave threat posed to our fundamental rights and freedom by the perpetrators of these attacks, and at the persistent failure to take systematic and effective steps not only to provide protection for those at risk but also to investigate the causes of these attacks," they said.

Today, constitutionalism, the rule of law and each and every organ of the state, including the legislature, the judiciary and the executive, are under direct physical attack, they observed.

They pointed out that independent reports have identified those responsible either individually or as linked to a group of religious extremists.

Such reports have pointed fingers at ruling coalition, particularly the Jamaat-e-Islami, for patronising extremists, the lawyers said, adding that there are cases of Jamaat cadres being released pending investigation due to pressure from high officials of the party.

They urged the administration to distance themselves from all religious extremists, including Jamaat-e-Islami, and authorise independent and effective investigation into various incidents of bombings.

The signatories to the statement are Foyej Ahmed, Tanjib-ul-Alam, Dr Sharif Bhuiyan, Asaduzzaman, Ruhul Quddus Babu, Supriyo Chakrabroty, Dr Shireen Sharmeen Chaudhury, Nowroz Chowdhury, Moin Ghani, Ashrful Hadi, Abdullah Mahmud Hasan, Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin, Shamsul Hasan, Motahar Hossain, Sara Hossain, Rehan Hossain, Jenefa Jabbar, Nihad Kabir, Taifoor Kabir, Sultana Kamal, Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Imtiaz Mahmood, Dr Faustina Preira, Idrisur Rahman, Matiur Rahman, Nafeesa M Razzaque, Murad Reza, Ramzan Ali Sikder and Humayun Kabir Sikder.