Dhaka: The High Court on Wednesday said Biroda Rani Roy, assistant commissioner (land) of Bhurungamari upazila in Kurigram, misused her power by sentencing a lawyer through a mobile court in Dinajpur district.

The HC bench comprising Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the observation during the hearing of a petition filed by AC (Land) Biroda seeking unconditional apology.

The court also fixed Thursday for delivering judgment on the apology petition.

Advocate Sayed Mamun Mahbub stood for the AC (Land) during the hearing.

Earlier in the day, Biroda Rani Roy appeared before the HC in response to the court order.

On December 17, the High Court summoned the AC (Land) of Bhurungamari upazila to appear before it on December 27 in connection with the sentencing of a lawyer through a mobile court in Dinajpur district.

The HC also issued a rule asking the assistant commissioner to explain as to why the sentencing of the lawyer should not be declared illegal.

The suo moto order and the rule came following a report titled ‘AC land jails lawyer for seeking to sit’ published in online news portal www.lawyersclubbangladesh.com.

On December 12, Biroda fined Advocate Nirod Bihari Tk 500, in default, to suffer one day in jail over sitting in front of her office when she was the land officer of Birganj upazila in Dinajpur.

Later, Biroda was transferred to Kurigram following a widespread resentment among the local lawyers.

Supreme Court lawyer Syed Mohidul Kabir and Advocate Kazi Helal Uddin brought the report to the court’s notice.