KUSHTIA, May 15: The 'Nyaykunja', a modern waiting lounge, constructed on the Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Court premises for litigants, has been turned into a trading centre.
This transformation has sparked widespread criticism, as seekers of justice who travel from distant areas are being deprived of the intended resting facilities.
During a recent visit, it was observed that the lounge has been occupied by shops selling bidis, cigarettes, betel leaves, and other grocery items since morning.
The environment has become unbearable due to open smoking, making it impossible for people to sit.
Furthermore, allegations have surfaced that some process servers of the court are using the space as a hub for unethical dealings with clients.
According to official sources, the facility was inaugurated on 25 September 2023 by the then Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique. Built at a cost of approximately Tk 50 lakh, the 800-square-foot lounge was designed to accommodate 40 people. It featured separate washrooms for men and women, a breastfeeding zone, pure drinking water, and a small tea stall.
However, within less than a year, the facility has deviated from its original purpose. It is alleged that an employee of the Legal Aid office, identified as Kamrul, took the tea stall allotment and sub-leased it to a third party for commercial use.
Litigants expressed their frustration, stating, "We travel long distances and have to wait for hours. It is now impossible to enter the lounge due to the pungent smell of cigarettes." They have called for immediate administrative intervention to remove the shops.
Legal practitioners also voiced their concern, noting that 'Nyayakunja' was built to ensure humanitarian service. Its commercial exploitation is tarnishing the court's image. They demanded the immediate removal of the food and grocery stalls to restore the facility's sanctity.
When asked about the situation, Mizanur Rahman, Nazir of the Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Court, said, "The tea stall was allotted to Legal Aid employee Kamrul on humanitarian grounds as he does not receive a regular salary. I am unaware that he has sub-leased it to someone else. I will investigate the matter."
Meanwhile, Asif, the current shop operator from Panti Biswas Para in Kumarkhali, remained indifferent to the plight of the litigants. "It's not my concern whether the litigants face problems. I am running the shop by paying Tk 5,000 per month as rent to Kamrul," he said.
