Bangladesh lawyers assaulted over Sheikh Hasina birthday event, rights body condemns attack
Synopsis
Violence entered Bangladesh's courtrooms this week — BNP workers allegedly assaulted three Awami League-affiliated lawyers and ransacked their chambers at the Shariatpur district court over a birthday celebration for ousted PM Sheikh Hasina. A Paris-based rights body has called it a direct threat to judicial independence, demanding an immediate independent probe.
Key Takeaways
Three lawyers — Sanwar Mallick , Shaheen Khan , and Tania Sultana — were allegedly assaulted at Shariatpur District and Sessions Judge's Court on Wednesday .
The attack was reportedly carried out by BNP leaders and workers protesting celebrations of former PM Sheikh Hasina's birthday.
The procession was allegedly led by Shariatpur Sadar Upazila BNP General Secretary Mahbub Morshed .
Paris-based Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemned the incident, calling it a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.
JMBF demanded an immediate independent, impartial investigation by the Government of Bangladesh .
The Government of Bangladesh has not yet issued a formal response to the condemnation.
Three pro-Awami League lawyers were assaulted and two lawyers' chambers were vandalised at the Shariatpur District and Sessions Judge's Court in Bangladesh on Wednesday, after they participated in celebrations marking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday. A Paris-based international human rights organisation has strongly condemned the incident, calling it a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.
What Happened at the Shariatpur Court
According to victims, lawyers affiliated with the Awami League had celebrated Sheikh Hasina's birthday on Monday. In response, leaders and workers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) reportedly organised a procession on the court premises on Wednesday afternoon, led by Shariatpur Sadar Upazila BNP General Secretary Mahbub Morshed.
The three lawyers beaten up were identified as Sanwar Mallick, Shaheen Khan, and Tania Sultana, all reportedly members of the Bangabandhu Awami Lawyers Council. Victims alleged that Mallick was first assaulted on the stairs of the district court and subsequently dragged to the front of the court building and beaten again. Khan and Sultana were allegedly attacked in their chambers in a building adjacent to the Lawyers' Association, which were also vandalised, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
Rights Body Issues Condemnation
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based rights organisation, on Friday, 3 October 2026, issued a sharp condemnation, stating that the reported violence occurred on court premises — spaces that 'must remain safe, independent and free from partisan intimidation.'
'Any politically motivated violence against lawyers threatens not only the victims but also the independence of the legal profession, the administration of justice and the rule of law,' the body said in its statement.
JMBF further stressed that a lawyer's actual, alleged, or perceived political affiliation can never justify violence, intimidation, harassment, or retaliation, and that lawyers must be free to perform professional duties without fear of politically motivated attacks.
Demands for Independent Investigation
JMBF called on the Government of Bangladesh and relevant authorities to immediately initiate an independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation into the assaults and vandalism, and to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice, irrespective of political affiliation, professional status, or influence.
The rights body also urged the international community to continue monitoring attacks and intimidation against members of Bangladesh's legal profession and to engage with the Government of Bangladesh to safeguard the independence of lawyers, the security of judicial institutions, and the rule of law.
Broader Context: Bangladesh's Volatile Political Climate
This incident comes amid a period of heightened political tension in Bangladesh, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Supporters of her Awami League have faced reported harassment and attacks across several districts. The targeting of lawyers on court premises, however, marks a notable escalation — courts are constitutionally protected spaces, and violence within their precincts raises serious concerns about the erosion of institutional neutrality. This is not the first such reported incident involving legal professionals since the political transition; rights groups have flagged a pattern of intimidation targeting opposition-affiliated advocates.
The Government of Bangladesh has yet to issue a formal response to the JMBF condemnation. How authorities respond to the call for an independent probe will be closely watched by international rights bodies in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Not merely at political opponents. Bangladesh's post-transition environment has seen repeated reports of intimidation against Awami League affiliates, but the pattern now reaching the judiciary is a red line that international observers are right to flag urgently. The government's response — or silence — will signal whether the rule of law in Bangladesh is being defended or selectively applied. Without a credible, independent probe and prosecution regardless of party affiliation, this incident risks normalising court-premises violence as a tool of political score-settling.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were lawyers assaulted at Shariatpur court in Bangladesh?
Three lawyers affiliated with the Awami League were allegedly assaulted by BNP leaders and workers at the Shariatpur District and Sessions Judge's Court on Wednesday because they had participated in celebrations marking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday. The BNP workers organised a procession in protest and allegedly attacked the lawyers on court premises.
Who were the lawyers assaulted in the Shariatpur court attack?
The three lawyers identified as victims are Sanwar Mallick, Shaheen Khan, and Tania Sultana, all reportedly members of the Bangabandhu Awami Lawyers Council. Mallick was allegedly beaten on the court stairs and again at the front of the building, while Khan and Sultana were attacked in their chambers.
Which organisation condemned the Bangladesh court attack?
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based international human rights organisation, issued a strong condemnation on Friday. It called the violence a direct threat to judicial independence and demanded an immediate, independent investigation by the Government of Bangladesh.
What has JMBF demanded from the Bangladesh government?
JMBF has called on the Government of Bangladesh to conduct an independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation into the assaults and vandalism, and to bring all responsible parties to justice regardless of political affiliation. It also urged the international community to monitor ongoing attacks against Bangladesh's legal profession.
What is the broader context of this incident?
The attack comes amid heightened political tensions in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rights groups have reported a pattern of intimidation and attacks against Awami League supporters across the country; violence inside court premises marks a notable escalation that directly threatens the independence of the judiciary.
