Lawyers in Bangladesh staged a black‑flag march and rally on Thursday, protesting the Supreme Court’s decision to run the Appellate and High Court Divisions virtually two days a week. They warned that if the decision is not withdrawn by Monday, they will begin a sit‑in protest from Tuesday.
The demonstration took place inside the Supreme Court premises, where senior lawyers including Syed Mamun Mahbub, Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Barrister Mokhsedul Islam, Advocate Shah Ahmed Badol, Advocate Maksud Ullah, Advocate Anisur Rahman Biswas Raihan, and Barrister Ashraful Islam addressed the gathering.
Speakers described virtual court proceedings as a “mockery in the name of justice”, arguing that remote hearings undermine transparency and deny litigants meaningful access to justice. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the decision.
According to the Supreme Court’s directive, issued under the Chief Justice’s order and signed by Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui, the Appellate and High Court Divisions will operate virtually every Wednesday and Thursday. The notice said the measure was introduced under the Information Technology Use Act 2020 and relevant practice guidelines, citing the global energy situation as a key factor.
Lawyers opposing the move insist that in‑person court proceedings are essential for an effective and transparent justice system. Their protest has sparked renewed debate across the legal community about the future of courtroom digitisation in Bangladesh.
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