Lawyers harass 3 journos for attempts to film accused in murder case

A group of lawyers harassed and threatened three journalists for attempting to take photographs and videos of a defendant in the case over BUET student Fardin’s death at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

The lawyers, led by Rezaul Haque Riaz and Akteruzzaman Dalim, reportedly were pro-Jamaat.

Amid the commotion, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibullah Pias summoned the three journalists to his courtroom and threatened to put them behind bars for “sparking chaos at the court,” without hearing a word in their defence.

The court ultimately let the journalists go after receiving an “unconditional apology” from them.

Tuesday was the date for submitting the investigation report in Fardin Nur Parash’s murder case.

Earlier, according to video footage and eyewitnesses, Amatullah Bushra, once a female friend of Fardin and the prime accused in the case, left the courtroom.

Kaler Kantho Correspondent Masud Rana, Ekattor TV reporter Ariful Islam and The Business Standard reporter Ariful Islam followed Bushra to take her photographs and video footage.

But a number of people, including defence lawyers, intervened to stop the video recording by journalists. The journalists replied saying they were conducting their routine duties and did not require the court’s permission to do so.

This further enraged the defence lawyer. Dalim snatched the mobile phone from one of the journalists. The other lawyers also verbally threatened Nur Uddin Rana, Fardin’s father and the plaintiff in the case.

At one point, Hasibullah Pias called the journalists inside his courtroom. He asked about their identities and media affiliations.

Afterwards, the judge said the journalists have to go to jail without any scope to defend themselves for “disturbing order around the court.”

He also ordered the seizure of their mobile phones. About two minutes later, the judge offered reprieve in exchange for an “unconditional apology” and nothing else.

The journalists were ultimately allowed to leave the court freely.