Stop attacks at court premises

How can an accused individual face mob violence right outside a judicial court? What, then, is the purpose of law and justice?

According to reports in the media, there was an attempt to physically assault former Minister of Forest and Environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court premises in Dhaka. Eggs were thrown at him during the incident. Prior to this, former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, former Prime Minister's Advisor on Industry and Investment Salman F. Rahman, and former Education Minister Dipu Moni were physically harassed at the Dhaka court premises. Eggs were also thrown at Anisul Huq and Salman F. Rahman.

In the face of student-led protests, the Sheikh Hasina government fell on August 5. Since then, a significant number of individuals have been arrested, including one advisor to Sheikh Hasina, three former ministers, two state ministers, the deputy speaker of parliament, one junior minister, and three MPs, among many others. Additionally, two journalists have also been detained.

Leaders who have been arrested are being brought to court for remand or sent to jail. However, several individuals have faced physical assaults right in the court premises, despite being under police security during their transfer in and out of the court.

These incidents have sparked outrage among the general public. A survey has revealed that 87% of people do not support attacks on accused individuals in court. Interim government legal advisor Professor Asif Nazrul also stated to journalists that it is never acceptable to attack anyone while going to court. He mentioned that various strategies and thoughts are being considered to prevent such incidents. But why do these incidents keep recurring? Is it merely a failure of the law enforcement agencies, a trend of mob justice and mob lynching, or is there some other nefarious intention behind it?

Let’s assume the accused are heinous criminals and collaborators of a fascist government. But why should they be harassed in the court premises? They have been brought to court for a legal trial. Why is there mob justice against them before the court’s verdict? This only serves to garner public support for them. Conversely, those demanding justice are being labeled as criminals. So, why this extrajudicial action?

“Do not take the law into your own hands” is a line often heard in Bengali cinema. However, there seems to be a growing tendency to take the law into one's own hands. This needs to be stopped, otherwise, the judicial system will fail. Regardless of how serious the crime, the accused should feel maximum security from law enforcement in court—this is the foundation of a civilized society’s law and justice system. If this foundation is violated, it raises questions not just about the law and courts, but about the entire state system. Therefore, we want enhanced security in court premises, and we also wish for the public’s conscience to be awakened.