In an unprecedented sweep, over 130 Awami League-affiliated lawyers have been jailed—sparking outrage and fear among Bangladesh’s legal and political communities. While the country is still navigating the aftermath of last year’s political transition, the recent jailing of these lawyers has stirred fresh controversy and concern.
Even though the complainant did not mention any specific charges against these legal professionals, they now face serious charges of assault, vandalism, and attempted murder linked to the anti-discrimination protests on August 4, 2024.
However, the sweeping arrests, including long-standing members of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Dhaka Bar Association, are far from black and white. While the official narrative frames these arrests as part of a legal process, many within the legal and political community are questioning the timing, scale, and intent behind the mass detentions.
Are these truly acts of justice—or is this a politically charged effort to suppress the voices of those still loyal to the former government?
While questions about judicial impartiality and political motives are raised, Awami League supporters feel the move is too harsh and personal; it’s a thinly veiled attempt to dismantle the Awami League’s legal and political influence under the guise of judicial proceedings.
Unveiling the Truth: What Really Happened On August 4
Although the focus is now on the court, things began on August 4, 2024, during the anti-discrimination protest. The heated protest at the Dhaka Bar Association premises quickly escalated into a confrontation, and later turned into a clash between protestors and lawyers, many of whom were known supporters of the Awami League.
While these lawyers are later accused of assault, vandalism, and even attempted murder, those who were on the scene tell a very different story.
According to many of the accused lawyers and eyewitnesses, they were not there to cause unrest but to defend the integrity of democratic institutions under threat from growing political instability caused by the protesters and opposition parties.
Yes, there was a confrontation—but the charges? Exaggerated, if not blatantly political. The conflicting accounts and a lack of impartial investigation are proof of that.
Mass Bail Mayhem: The Political Witch Hunt That Shook the System
On April 6, 93 pro-Awami League lawyers, including senior leaders and bar association officials, surrendered before the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court. They came in good faith, seeking bail and hoping for fair treatment.
But things didn’t go as expected.
Bail was denied. Instead of a fair hearing, many were sent straight to jail, despite their cooperation and the fact that most had earlier received temporary bail from the High Court, which had just expired that day.
Even though it is termed as “justice served” by the interim government, many believe this is no ordinary case—it’s a targeted crackdown against Awami League loyalists. This raised a serious question:
Who is pulling the strings?
Evidence points to anti-AL forces in the interim regime pulling the strings behind the scenes. Groups like the National Citizen Party (NCP) have openly called for barring AL members from politics, blaming them for everything from fascism to genocide.
NCP’s Akhtar Hossain even warned that “NCP will not accept rehabilitation of Awami League; they have no moral right to do politics in the country” —a message that’s as political as it gets.
Is this justice—or just settling scores? Who is really benefitting from silencing so many pro-AL legal voices at once?
Only time can dictate!