Online Desk: Two judges of a High Court bench today left the courtroom amid chaos following heated conversations between Awami League- and BNP-backed lawyers during hearing of a rule over publicising BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s statements. The eight-year-old rule questioned the legality of publicising Tarique’s statements in print, electronic and social media.

While hearing the rule in the morning, the bench of Justice Md Khairuzzaman and Justice Md Khairul Alam allowed a petition from pro-AL lawyers that sought its directive on Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to ban publishing and broadcasting Tarique’s statements on social media.

Then, the pro-BNP lawyers started shouting saying that they have submitted a petition to the chief justice expressing no confidence in Justice Md Khasuzzaman and therefore, he cannot deal with the matter. They were heard in the courtroom shouting “shame, shame”. Pro-AL lawyers protested and chaos ensued in the courtroom. At one stage, the judges left the courtroom.

Following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Nashreen Siddiqua Lina, the HC on January 7, 2015 issued the rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and the media to explain as to why publicising Tarique’s statements should not be declared illegal.

At the same time, the court ordered the government to immediately take steps to stop publicising his statements in the media as long as he remains a fugitive.

Senior lawyer and former food minister Md Qamrul Islam and advocates Sanjida Khanam appeared fort the writ petitioner, while a section of pro-BNP lawyers, including AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Md Bodruddoza Badal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kayser Kamal and Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, stood for Tarique during the HC proceedings today.