During the ongoing anti-discrimination movement, 93 pro-Awami League lawyers accused of assault, vandalism, and attempted murder have surrendered before the court and sought bail. On Sunday, they submitted bail petitions to the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain Galib. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for 2 PM today.

Notable among the petitioners are former Dhaka Bar president Saidur Rahman Manik, Gazi Shah Alam, Mahbubur Rahman, Abu Said Sagar, Asadur Rahman Rochi, Cyber Tribunal’s public prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim, and Morshed Hossain Shahin.

Morshed Hossain Shahin, one of the accused lawyers, stated that he was being targeted for representing over a hundred Awami League activists, calling the case unjust and a violation of the rule of law.

The case stems from an incident on August 4 last year, during the anti-discrimination protests, when pro-Awami League lawyers allegedly carried out an armed attack, vandalized chambers, and attempted murder at the Dhaka court premises. On February 6, Mohammad Ali Babu, a member of the Lawyers’ Association Executive Committee, filed the case against 144 lawyers. Of them, 115 had earlier secured eight weeks of bail from the High Court, which expires on Monday.

The accused include Awami League’s Legal Affairs Secretary Kazi Nazibullah Hiru, former public prosecutor Abdullah Abu, former Bar president Mokhlesur Rahman Badol, Saidur Rahman Manik, Mizanur Rahman Mamun, Abdur Rahman Hawlader, Gazi Shah Alam, Abdul Baten, Mahbubur Rahman, former general secretary Golam Kibria Zubayer, Anwar Shahadat Shawon, Firozur Rahman Montu, Asaduzzaman Khan Rochi, and former MP Sanjida Khanam.

According to the case, the accused created panic with weapons and sticks, detonated explosives, and chanted slogans like “Sheikh Hasina is not afraid, we’re still on the streets.” One of the victims was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by Anwar Shahadat Shawon, who wore a helmet and pointed a pistol at him.