A chaotic scuffle erupted between pro-BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawyers on Sunday afternoon within the premises of the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court, centering on the bail hearing of retired Major Akhtaruzzaman.
The commotion broke out shortly after 2:00 pm when Akhtaruzzaman was produced before the court under tight security following the completion of a one-day remand. As legal representatives gathered inside the courtroom, heated arguments flared over positioning and standing arrangements. The vocal disagreement rapidly escalated into physical altercations, creating severe disruption across the court corridors and forcing the presiding magistrate to temporarily vacate the bench. Order was eventually restored after security personnel and senior members of the legal community intervened, allowing the judicial proceedings to resume.
Following the resumption of the session, the defence counsel submitted a petition seeking bail for the accused, while the prosecution vehemently opposed the prayer, arguing that the charges warranted continued detention. After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the metropolitan magistrate rejected the bail application and ordered Akhtaruzzaman to be remanded to prison.
Court premises in Bangladesh have frequently witnessed heightened friction between political factions within the legal fraternity. Both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami maintain active and influential lawyer wings, which regularly represent high-profile political figures and former military personnel involved in legal proceedings. Tensions often peak during sensitive hearings, where partisan affiliations and crowded courtroom environments can quickly trigger confrontation.
Sunday’s incident underscores the persistent political rivalries that filter into the country’s judicial corridors, often overshadowing routine legal processes. While court security managed to contain the scuffle without major injuries reported, senior legal professionals expressed concern over the recurring disruptions within the capital’s primary magistrate court complex.
