Many advocates lodge public interest litigation case for publicity but are not found after the ruling, the High Court (HC) has said indignantly.
The court expressed resentment on Tuesday (May 7), during the hearing of a writ seeking justice for the death of a lawyer. At court, the writ was represented by Barrister Syed Sayedul Huq Sumon while state was represented by Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman.
At the court, the lawyer who lodged the writ said: “I am a prosecutor of the tribunal but since I am not fighting for a war criminal, there’s no restriction against lodging a writ.”
Meanwhile, the High Court said that public interest cases are lodged for publicity and later, after ruling, advocates are rarely found and if hearing dates are fixed, they postpone them.
The court also said: “We know via social media that barrister Sumon is working to solve a variety of social problems; this is positive but a section is already working against him; therefore, we ask barrister Sumon to be cautious.”
Later, the court postponed the case till May 8. The writ was lodged by barrister Sumon on May 6 over the burning of lawyer Palash Kumar Roy in Panchagarh prison, who later died in hospital.
Earlier, on Mar 25, Panchagarh lawyer Polash Kumar Roy began a hunger strike demanding the withdrawal of a case lodged by the Kohinoor Chemical Company. Later, he organized a human chain but locals, alleging that he had made a slander against the prime minister, handed him over to the police.
Palash was sent to prison and he was supposed to be sent to Dhaka on Apr 26. However, he sustained burn injuries over 47 percent of his body.
For better treatment, he was admitted to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he died while undergoing treatment on Apr 30.
Barrister Sumon lodged a writ asking for a judicial inquiry of the death of Palash.