The High Court on Monday observed that 21 lawyers should be ashamed of chanting indecent slogans against district Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mohammad Faruq.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil made the observation when 21 lawyers of Brahmanbaria Bar Association appeared before it in compliance with its January 10 order.

It is a crime worse than contempt of court, said the court and warned that HC could cancel the licenses of these lawyers for life.

The court also extended the time till February 19 for the lawyers to explain the contempt of court allegation.

On January 10, the HC summoned the 21 lawyers including the Brahmanbaria Bar Association secretary to explain the allegation of contempt of court.

The court also issued a rule to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them.

Brahmanbaria District and Sessions Judge Sharmin Nigar sent a letter to the Supreme Court in this regard on January 9.

On January 5, the same bench summoned three lawyers including Brahmanbaria Bar Association president on January 17 for misbehaving with the district Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mohammad Faruq.

Those summoned were Bar Association president Tanvir Ahmed Bhuiyan, Secretary (Administration) Md Akkas Ali and Zubair Islam.

The court also issued a rule questioning as to why punitive action should not be taken against them on contempt of court charge.

On January 4, district Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Mohammad Faruq sent a written complaint to the High Court to take action against those involved in this incident. Later, on the instructions of the Chief Justice, the Registrar General of the Supreme Court sent the written complaint of the judge to the HC bench.

On January 2, Bar Association president Md Tanvir Bhuiyan, secretary Md Akkas Ali and around 10-15 lawyers including Zubair Islam came and rudely asked the judge to leave the courtroom. Advocate Tanvir hurled abusive words at the court, as per the complaint.