Workers storm court

Militant port workers stormed a labour court in Bangladesh's commercial capital Chittagong, forcing the judge to lock himself in a lavatory as he was about to pronounce the verdict in a graft case on Saturday.

At least 20 people, including three lawyers and three court employees who helped the judge to flee his chamber, were injured in the attack.

Judge Hrishikesh Saha, however, escaped unhurt, police and witnesses said. They said around 150 workers, led by pro-government labour leader Zebal Haq, broke through the main gate of the court building and made a foray into the courtroom.

Equipped with hockey sticks, they vandalised the court for over half-an-hour. The attackers travelled to the court area riding on four trucks believing the judgement might go against them.

Police reached the spot about an hour later and detained 20 of the attackers including their leader, Zebal Haq, who all belong to the labour front of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Others managed to flee the scene.

The criminal case was filed against 18 officials of the Coaster Hedge Sramik Union, a pro-BNP trade union, including its president,Haq, on a charge of taking a three-crore-taka bribe.