Staff Correspondent

A faction of pro-BNP lawyers staged a protest in front of the Attorney General’s Office on Sunday, alleging financial transactions and irregularities in the recent appointments of Deputy Attorney Generals (DAGs) and Assistant Attorney Generals (AAGs).

Following the demonstration, a rally was held where protesters demanded the cancellation of the newly issued appointment list and called for the recruitment of "qualified lawyers who were actively involved in past political movements."

Speaking at the rally, former DAG Ashikuzzaman Nazrul alleged that crores of takas changed hands during the recent appointment process. "Many of those appointed were never involved with the politics of BNP or the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum," he claimed, demanding an explanation from the Attorney General regarding how the selections were made.

"Lawyers who have worked for the party for a long time have once again been deprived," he added.

Masud Rana, a dropped Deputy Attorney General, raised questions about the transparency of the recruitment process. He noted that there is existing resentment among party activists regarding the role of current Attorney General Md. Asrarul Hoque in managing cases for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia during the 1-11 caretaker government regime.

Among others, lawyers Akhtar Hossain, Sharif U Ahmed, Aiyub Ali Ashrafi, Md. Isa, ABM Ibrahim Khalil, Anisur Rahman Khan, Zahirul Islam Sumon, and Anowara Shikha addressed the gathering.

The protest broke out on the first working day following the weekend after the government canceled all previous appointments on Thursday, appointing 86 new DAGs and 179 AAGs.

When contacted regarding the allegations, Attorney General Md. Asrarul Hoque dismissed the claims as unfounded.

"If there are specific proofs or evidence of financial transactions in the appointment of law officers, it should be investigated. However, it is not right to question a process by making baseless allegations," he said.

"I am not the appointing authority; I am also an appointee. If someone makes an allegation, the burden of proof lies on them. This is a serious allegation. If there is a specific complaint against anyone, an investigation should be conducted and legal action taken if necessary. Raising vague allegations to discredit a sound process makes no sense," the AG added.

Addressing the dissatisfaction among the omitted lawyers, he explained, "During the previous interim government, 337 law officers were appointed. The current government reduced the number considering necessity. Consequently, many were not reappointed, which may have led to discontent."

"It is natural that some people feel a gap between their expectations and reality, leading to anger. I believe these allegations stem from that frustration," he remarked.

Clarifying the criteria for appointments, Asrarul Hoque stated that the President appoints the required number of law officers as per the law. "To become a DAG, one must possess the qualifications required to be a High Court judge, while an AAG requires at least five years of practice in the High Court."

"About 80 percent of the Assistant Attorney Generals were retained from previous appointees, alongside new additions. The President likely made this decision based on their efficiency, dedication, and other observations evaluated by the government," he noted.

When asked about the situation, Zainul Abedin, President of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, stated that the appointment process for DAGs and AAGs is conducted through the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Law. As the forum president, he is not directly involved in the process.

Zainul said he would not stand in the way of lawyers protesting for their rights, adding that the responsibility to prove allegations rests with the accusers, while those accused must refute them.