Lawyers, affiliated with the BNP, have staged protests on the Supreme Court premises demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain after suspension of a High Court order that granted Khaleda Zia bail.
The lawyers brought out a procession on the court premises and shouted slogans against the chief justice on Wednesday.
In the morning, a four-member Appellate Division bench, led by the chief justice, stayed Khaleda’s bail and fixed Sunday for a hearing.
BNP-affiliated lawyers expressed indignation inside the courtroom as the bench issued the order after hearing the statement of Anti-Corruption Commission’s counsel Khurshid Alam.
Outside the court, Khaleda’s lawyer Zainul Abedin said they were “hurt” at the apex court’s order after hearing only one party. “We cannot find perfect words to describe the court’s order,” he said.
The BNP chairperson is currently in jail after being convicted in a corruption case.
-‘Court stayed bail without listening to us’-
Zainul said the top court usually listened to both parties before issuing an order.
“But today, as soon as the ACC lawyer presented the appeal, the court said to file a leave to appeal on Sunday and that the bail will be stayed until then,” he said.
“He [the chief justice] did not listen to our argument and did not give us the minimum opportunity to face the case legally. Instead, it approved a stay order,” he added.
Zainul said the move was “unprecedented” and unexpected. “The highest court never interfered in such short sentences,” the lawyer said.
“We wanted to tell the court that Khaleda Zia could not get out of jail even if you do not issue a stay order. The government will not let her out. Already, it has planned to arrest her in various cases.
“If you issue a stay order, it will have a negative effect on the people. But the court did not listen to us.”
The lawyer hoped that the court would listen to both parties on Sunday, adding: “[We hope] the court will vacate today’s order keeping in mind the previous examples and Khaleda Zia will walk free.”