Lalmonirhat Lawyers Refuse to Defend Drug and Gambling Accused

The Lalmonirhat District Bar Association has taken a decisive stand against the rise of narcotics and illegal gambling in the region. In an unprecedented move, local lawyers have announced that they will refuse to represent or seek bail for any suspects arrested in connection with drug and gambling offences over the next month.

The decision was officially communicated during a press conference held on Thursday morning at the District Bar Association building. Association leaders expressed that the resolution stems from a deep sense of social responsibility, aimed at protecting the youth from the destructive impacts of addiction and financial ruin.

This legal boycott aligns with the ‘Alokita Lalmonirhat’ (Enlightened Lalmonirhat) initiative, a comprehensive social reform campaign led by the Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Principal Asadul Habib Dulu. The broader campaign, which commenced on 4 July, targets four major societal issues plaguing the district: drug abuse, gambling, child marriage, and the illegal dowry system. By withholding legal services, the bar association hopes to create a strong deterrent against these crimes.

Speaking at the press conference, Advocate K. M. Humayun Kabir Swapan, President of the District Bar Association, emphasised the gravity of the situation. He noted that substance abuse and gambling do not merely affect individuals but ruin entire families and destabilise the social fabric. He asserted that the legal community must play an active role in building social resistance against these vices.

Advocate Md. Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, the General Secretary of the association, described the move as a powerful social message. He urged all sectors of society to unite against these illicit activities and warned that the association would not hesitate to enforce even stricter measures in the future if the situation does not improve. The press conference concluded with a unanimous show of support from the attending members of the bar, underlining the collective commitment of the district’s legal professionals to foster a safer, crime-free community.