Lawyers, judges lock horns in Chandpur as court boycott deepens case backlog

A confrontation between judges and lawyers has brought court proceedings in Chandpur under prolonged disruption, after an alleged attempt by the district Bar president to influence a judicial order escalated into a boycott of three judges.

The dispute began on September 8, when Chandpur District Bar Association President Md Shamsul Islam Montu allegedly entered the chamber of Civil Judge Shampa Islam during a court recess, accompanied by a litigant in a pending case.

Court and Supreme Court sources said Montu questioned why an expected order had not been issued and allegedly pressed the judge to rule in his client’s favour. When the judge declined, he allegedly behaved discourteously before leaving the chamber.

Montu has not been quoted in the account responding specifically to the allegation that he sought to influence the order.

Judge Islam subsequently recorded that a party had entered her chamber seeking relief in a pending matter and discussed the case outside the presence of the opposing side. Citing concerns over whether it would be appropriate for her to issue a further order, she sent the case records to the District and Sessions Judge for further proceedings.

The dispute has since widened.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court issued a notice accusing Bar leaders of calling a boycott of three courts after judges refused what it described as “unlawful demands,” including demands related to advance notification of bail applications and an injunction hearing.

The notice alleged that the boycott was intended to exert pressure on the courts and divert attention from the original chamber incident.

Lawyers reject that account and accuse the judges of arbitrary conduct and harassment.

Bar President Montu and General Secretary Zakir Hossain Talukder Faisal, in a joint statement, demanded the withdrawal of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Senior Judicial Magistrate Palash Bardhan and Senior Civil Judge Shampa Islam.

They alleged that the three had repeatedly behaved discourteously with lawyers and said their conduct was making it more difficult for litigants to obtain timely justice.

Bar member Fosal Ahmed said lawyers appearing before Islam had faced repeated delays because hearings were being adjourned instead of specific orders being issued.

The continuing standoff has disrupted proceedings and worsened an already substantial case backlog. About 4,500 cases are pending in Islam’s court alone, according to the account.

The Chandpur District Judge has sought to resolve the dispute, but no agreement has been reached. Supreme Court authorities are also monitoring the situation.

With lawyers continuing their boycott and the two sides trading allegations, litigants remain caught in proceedings that have been delayed without a clear date for normal court operations to resume.

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