HC asks SC lawyer to clarify taking huge fees in a case

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday asked a Supreme Court lawyer who took Tk 260 million as fees from his clients to submit details of it.
An HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order after hearing the issue. The lawyer might have taken the fee using court's name, hinted the HC bench.
The court said, "Clear it with an affidavit so that people do not have the slightest doubt about the higher judiciary of the country. What is there to hide the fees you received as a lawyer? Clearly state in an affidavit how much fee you have taken. Also clarify whether there is any involvement of the court."
On June 30 this year, the same HC bench directed the parties to submit a statement jointly regarding payments of dues to the employees of Grameen Telecom, an organisation owned by Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus.
The court at the same time asked the parties to submit relevant documents of the dealings in the court before August 2, 2022.
An allegation was also raised at that time that the case filed against the Grameen Telecom was settled through compromise in exchange of giving Tk 120 million to the lawyer of petitioners, Advocate Yousuf Ali.
During the hearing Tuesday, the HC bench of Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar said, "We have heard that the employees' lawyer was biased in exchange of money and the employees were forced to settle the case through compromise."
The HC also said, "There should not be any irregularity by using the court. If everything is not in accordance with the law, the matter will be taken seriously. I don't want to see raising of any question about the integrity of the court and the lawyer."
There is no lawyer, not only in Bangladesh, but also in this subcontinent, who can take fee to the tune of Tk 120 million in a case, the court also said expressing its wonder.

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