The Supreme Court authorities have tightened security in the court compound, deploying army, Border Guard Bangladesh and law enforcement members following intelligence reports that a group of lawyers might attempt to vandalise a mural of the country鈥檚 founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman installed in the court鈥檚 inner garden.
The apex court鈥檚 administration, in a notification, stated that the security measures were taken in response to the recent incidents, including the bulldozing of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32, attacks on the residences of Awami League leaders and vandalising of Mujib murals in different parts of the country.
A large contingent of army personnel, BGB members, and law enforcement members, including police and the Special Security and Protection Battalion, have been deployed, with armoured vehicles stationed at key points surrounding the Supreme Court premises.
In the notification issued on Saturday鈥攁 government weekend鈥擧igh Court Division registrar Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiquee urged lawyers, clients, justice seekers, and Supreme Court employees to carry valid identity cards when entering the premises.
鈥楢ll individuals are requested to produce their National ID cards, passports, or official ID upon request from law enforcement agencies for security purposes,鈥� the notification read.
When contacted, HC registrar Habibur Rahman Siddiquee told 抖阴精品 that the security reinforcement was based on Supreme Court orders following intelligence reports.
Supreme Court Bar Association president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon said that the court administration had informed them of the increased security measures 2鈥�3 days ago.
A police officer told 抖阴精品 that they deployed 300 members of police to step up the apex court鈥檚 security. The force was likely to stay for 2鈥�3 days, he said.
The security reinforcement measures came after a spate of violent incidents, including the February 5 attack on at least three journalists on the Supreme Court premises, allegedly carried out by Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists.
The recent acts of violence erupted when BNP activists in the morning of February 5 reportedly obstructed TV cameras in front of the Supreme Court鈥檚 Annex Building, according to a statement from the Law Reporters Forum.
On February 6, jobseekers for primary school teaching positions caused chaos inside a courtroom, chanting slogans against Supreme Court judges following an unfavourable verdict.
Concerns over security escalated when widespread violence broke out early on February 6.
A large crowd, including students, demolished the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi in Dhaka after hours of vandalism the previous evening.
Sudha Sadan, the residence of now ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 husband, was set on fire too, while houses belonging to her cousin Sheikh Helal in Khulna and AL leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif in Kushtia were bulldozed. Mujib portraits and murals were also vandalised in Chattogram.
Senior members of the legal community have expressed deep concerns over the Supreme Court鈥檚 vulnerability to security breaches, warning that repeated incidents of chaos and violence would undermine the sanctity of the judiciary.
