510 SC lawyers protest statement on Yunus

A total of 510 lawyers of the Supreme Court (SC) issued a statement on Monday, protesting the global leaders' open letter - sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina - about the trial proceedings of Nobel Laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus.
Md Abdun Nur Dulal, Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), on behalf of the lawyers - mostly Awami League supporters -presented the statement in a press conference.
The statement said, "We have noticed the letter - sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina - from some Nobel laureates and global figures. They urged (the government) to stop the judicial proceedings against Prof Yunus in the country's different courts."
"We consider (issuing) this kind of letter a clear threat to the judiciary and the country's sovereignty. As lawyers of the highest court, we are deeply concerned over such undue interference in the judicial process of Bangladesh," also read the statement.
On September 7, a total of 301 pro-BNP lawyers of the SC, issued a statement - demanding an end to the present government's harassment and oppressive measures against Prof Yunus.
Recently, a Deputy Attorney General (DAG), who was later sacked from his post, said Dr Yunus is being subjected to judicial harassment.
Imran Ahmed Bhuiyan also said he refrained from signing a statement, prepared by the Attorney General's office, protesting the recent letter from the global figures to the Prime Minister.
"I agree with the statement, issued by the Nobel laureates and world leaders, regarding the trial proceedings against Prof Yunus. I think he is an honourable man. He is being defamed and it is judicial harassment."
The Attorney General's office issued a notification - asking signatures from the Attorney General, Additional Attorney Generals, Deputy Attorney Generals and Assistant Attorney Generals - in order to issue a statement in protest against the global figures' statement, said Irman Ahmed in a press briefing on the SC premises. "I've decided that I will not sign the statement, prepared by the Attorney General's office," he added.

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