Meanwhile, pro-government lawyers held a rally in a showdown against the boycotting lawyers in front of Justice Joynul's courtroom and also in front of both SCBA president and secretary's office.

However, the court proceedings at Justice Joynul Abedin's bench continued without any untoward incident.

On August 1, the HC bench comprising Justice Joynul Abedin and Justice Mashuk Hosain Ahmed issued contempt rule on 11 Supreme Court lawyers to explain why proceedings of contempt of court should not be brought against them for violation of the HC's suo moto ruling on May 23, 2005 and also for committing other contemptuous acts.

SCBA on Wednesday decided to refrain from joining any activities in this court protesting the rule.

A number of SCBA leaders and anti-government lawyers led by the SCBA Secretary AM Amin Uddin took position in between the entryway of the court building and the Bar office from 10:15am to 11:00am in support of their boycott programme.

Pro-government lawyers, on the other hand, took position in front of Justice Joynul bench at around 10:30am to foil their opponents' boycott programme. Some of them took position inside the courtroom as well.

At around 11:00am, pro-government lawyers led by advocate Khandker Mahbubuddin Ahmed MP under the banner of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (JIF) gathered in front of the SCBA president and secretary's office and stayed there for half an hour to protest the boycott.

JIF held a meeting later in the south hall of the Bar building in protest against the SCBA programmes.

Meanwhile, anti-government lawyers under the banner of Shammilito Ainjibi Parishad held a human chain programme protesting politicisation of the judiciary.