Lawyers in Faridpur have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the conduct of Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Selim Reza, alleging rude and inappropriate behavior towards lawyers and litigants.
In response, the Faridpur District Bar Association announced a boycott of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday (27 January) at around 1:30pm.
The meeting was chaired by members of the Bar Association’s executive committee and attended by its General Secretary Advocate Jasim Uddin Mridha Jasim, along with representatives from various executive bodies.
Bar Association President Advocate Khondaker Lutfar Rahman Pilu said the judge’s conduct had repeatedly crossed acceptable limits. “The chief judicial magistrate regularly behaves rudely with lawyers and parties to cases. Such conduct is completely unacceptable, which is why we were forced to take this urgent decision,” he said.
He added that while lawyers respect the rule of law and judicial authority, mutual respect is essential for the justice system to function properly. “Courts must uphold dignity and courtesy. Disrespectful behavior towards lawyers cannot be tolerated. We expect the relevant authorities to take the matter seriously,” he said.
Following the boycott announcement, hearings in several cases at the district and sessions courts were temporarily halted. Many lawyers voiced support for the decision, saying it was necessary to protect a professional working environment and maintain public confidence in the judiciary.
After the incident, the district administration and higher judicial authorities began monitoring the situation. Legal experts in Faridpur said such disputes are concerning for judicial transparency and ethics, and called for swift steps to resolve the issue.
Advocate Touhidul Islam Stalin, convener of the Faridpur Literary and Cultural Development Association, said the Bar Association’s stance was aimed at preserving the dignity of the courts. “The court is the final place of justice. Respectful behavior towards all parties is essential to uphold law and order,” he said.
