A case has been filed at Kotwali Model Police Station against 12 members of the Barishal District Lawyers Association, including its president and secretary. Following the case, joint forces arrested association president Sadiqur Rahman Linkon from a room on the third floor of the association’s annex building around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He was later handed over to Kotwali Model Police Station the same afternoon.

The other accused include Barishal District and Sessions Judge Court’s Public Prosecutor Abul Kalam Azad, Metropolitan Court’s PP Nazimuddin Panna, and several other advocates. After the arrest, BNP-aligned lawyers and association leaders protested within the court premises, demanding Linkon’s immediate release. General Secretary Mirza Mohammad Riaz Hossain condemned the arrest inside the court building, calling it a violation of law and demanding the removal of two magistrates he labeled as corrupt.

Members of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum also warned of tougher programs if Linkon was not released and announced a boycott of court hearings until his release.