Leaders assaulted as Rajshahi bar members clash

- November 19, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Several lawyers including the president and the general secretary of Rajshahi Bar Association were assaulted as two groups of lawyers scuffled during the association's general meeting at the hall room of first Bar Bhaban in the city yesterday noon.

The general meeting, called over discussion on recent resignation of 11 members of the executive committee of the association, was postponed as some lawyers chased each other and damaged chairs and tables at the meeting venue.

The 11 lawyers, including a vice president and six secretaries of the association, resigned on October 31 protesting corruptions and forgery involving Tk 26 lakh allegedly by association President Mohammad Yahia and General Secretary Lokman Ali.

The unwanted situation ensued at around 2:45pm when Entajul Haque Babu, a public prosecutor and member secretary of Rajshahi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad, was delivering speech at the meeting.

He demanded that the association committee be abolished and new interim committee be announced as one its members died and 11 others of the 21-member body resigned.

Angered by his statement, Abu Aslam and Bazlur Rahman, both followers of association President Yahia, jumped on the meeting table and started shouting at Babu to stop his speech, said witnesses and lawyers.

As Abdul Wahab James and Golam Mostafa of the Oikya Parishad tried to resist Aslam and Bazlu, lawyers engaged in a scuffle, punching and kicking each other.

A few lawyers started beating association President Md Yahia and General Secretary Lokman Ali. Other lawyers escorted them out

to a safe place.

Lokman Ali told The Daily Star that opponents assaulted five persons of their group while Entajul Haque Babu said two of their members were beaten up.

Police rushed to the spot at 3:15pm and brought the situation under control, said Rajpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Afzal Hossain.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=114568