DHAKA, Jan 29, 2025 (BSS) - The lawyers representing Salman F Rahman, former private industry affairs adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and other stalwarts of the former government have been accused of creating a ruckus and harassing journalists working at the courtroom at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court here today.

Today was fixed for holding hearing of different cases against Salman F Rahman, former law minister Anisul Huq, former Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam, former lawmaker Dilip Kumar Agarwala and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Tanvir Hasan Soikat.

"As police produced the accused at the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Azharul Islam around 10 am, defence lawyers promptly surrounded the accused dock and were seen talking with their clients. The judge came to the courtroom at 10:12 am. As journalists were taking notes of the situation, the lawyers started harassing them, protesting their presence at the courtroom," a court official, refused to be named, said.

The defence lawyers were also seen creating a noisy disturbance, falsely claiming that the journalists were taking photos and videos inside the courtroom.

Earlier, Salman F Rahman was found to be passing secret messages through his counsels, asking the workers of his Beximco Group and Awami League cadres to take the field against the interim government. Former minister Dr Dipu Moni and state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak too were found doing the same. After repeated newspaper reports on the matter, police imposed stricter measures for bringing and taking back the accused to and from the jail.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki vehemently protested today's incident, saying the journalists will do their duty at courtroom, no lawyers can stop them.

"As I was not present at the courtroom today, I have not seen what happened. But I will look into the matter in future," he said.

Dhaka Bar Association president Khorshed Mia Alam condemned the incident, saying his association will take action against the responsible lawyers, if journalists give their names. I will do whatever legally possible in this regard, he added.