About Us
ABOUT THE CHAMBERS
CHAMBERS HISTORY
Mr. Ahmad Sobhan one of the noted lawyer of his time established his law chambers in 1951 and later named it as “SOBHAN & SOBHAN”, Legal Advisers. It is one of the two oldest law chambers of the country. He was elected the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association in 1972 and again in 1976. He was elected the Vice Chairman of Asian Lawyers Association in 1982.
Among his juniors, 5 were elevated to the bench of the High Court Division and three of them, Mr. Justice MD. RUHUL AMIN, Mr. Justice M. FAZLUL KARIM & Mr. Justice S.K. SINHA eventually became the Chief Justices of Bangladesh.
Two of his other juniors Advocate Aminul Haque and Barrister K.S. Nabi became the Attorneys General of Bangladesh.
Mr. Shah Azizur Rahman who was in his chambers till August 1971, became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh during President Ziaur Rahman’s regime.
Mr. Sobhan filed the first Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case in Bangladesh known as BERUBARI CASE which was the first PIL in the whole of Indian sub-continent.
Mr. Sobhan was a close associate of the then Attorney General of Pakistan Mr. S. Sharfuddin Pirzada and worked with him in the 1960’s when the Supreme Court of Pakistan had its sessions in Dhaka.
Mr. Pirzada became the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and made Mr. Ahmad Sobhan a delegate to represent Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly in 1967 and he was a member of the 6th committee of UN.
Mr. Pirzada later became the Chairman of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
CHAMBER PROFILE
The present head of the chambers since 1984, Barrister Masood R. Sobhan, is the son of its founder Ahmad Sobhan. He got his LL.B from University of Dhaka then Diploma in Law from City University (U.K). He was called to the Bar of England and Wales from the Hon’ble Society of Lincolns’ Inn in 1980 and since then he has been practicing in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Barrister Sobhan is the President of Barristers’ Association of Bangladesh for past 5 years.
Barrister Sobhan was involved in a number of landmark cases which include
when the then President of Bangladesh Mr. Iajuddin Ahmed, violating the constitutional provision declared himself to be the Head of the Caretaker Government, he filed a writ petition (PIL) seeking declaration from the High Court Division that the President’s assumption of the office as Head of the Caretaker Government was violative of the constitution and therefore, illegal. This was entertained and when the order of the High Court Division was about to be passed, the Chief Justice illegally stayed the case and as a result the lawyers in the Supreme Court premises erupted in violent protest. To avoid a nationwide political crisis the Chief of Bangladesh Army General Moin U. Ahmed intervened and put a caretaker government in place with Mr. Fakhruddin Ahmed as the Head supported by 10 advisers. THIS CASE TURNED A NEW CHAPTER IN THE NATION’S HISTORY. No one other than the petitioner thought that a case could be filed against the President as Article 51 of the Constitution of Bangladesh categorically granted him immunity and stated that he was not answerable to any court of law he made out of the case of the century by filing a writ petition assorting that the President was indeed answerable in the Court if he violates the constitutional provisions which he had taken the oath to protect and defend and the Judges of the Supreme Court, in a writ petition had the authority and jurisdiction to hear the writ petition as they themselves took the oath of office to preserve and protect the Constitution of Bangladesh.
filing a writ petition in 2005 seeking direction from the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh upon the Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC). After elaborate and contested hearing the EC was directed by the High Court to hold election within 90 days. The writ jurisdiction has to be invoked as the EC was allowing the caretaker government which was enjoying the backing of General Moin U. Ahmed formed two and half years ago in January 2005 for 3 months and was illegally continued to hold the office beyond that period as caretaker government.
He filed a writ petition in 2008 seeking declaration that the government recognize those persons who made substantial contribution to the Bengalis Freedom Fighters and the refugees in Agartala, India among them cited the names of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Senator Edward M. Kenedy, the Chairman of the Senate Refugee Committee in 1971 who allotted American Governments money to feed the refugees in Agartala, India estimated to have been 1 crore (ten million) and Beatle George Harrison who raised fund for the refugees in the Maddison Square Gardens in New York in 1971 termed a “Concert for Bangladesh”. Despite the judgment (attached herein) passed by the High Court Division Senator Edward Kenedy whose contribution for the refugees to feed them was so enormous did not receive the honour or proper appreciation deserved. Throughout his life he protected and advised the interest of Bangladesh as a Senator.
in 2022 during the World Cup tournament, Barrister Sobhan as petitioner filed a writ petition (PIL) of the migrant workers who worked in Qatar since 2010. When Qatar was declared as the venue to hold World Cup in 2022 the writ petition was filed on behalf of those migrant workers, particularly the Bangladeshis who worked in the desert like place often in temperature of around 50˚C. They were compelled to work beyond the 8 hours duty time without food or water and overtime. It was inhumane to treated the migrant workers in such working condition and the Qatar in fact became a prison for them since they were not allowed to change jobs not could they afford to leave their job and comeback to their respective countries. Nearly six thousand eight hundred migrant workers died, in fact murdered by forcing them to work in such unbearable physical condition and among them there were 640 Bangladeshis who went to work as workers in Qatar and earn some money but comeback home as dead bodies. Every country around the world knew about the condition of the migrant workers and international media gave wide coverage about the torturers working conditions. Federation of Internal Football Association (FIFA) turned a blind eye to the migrant workers’ plight. So did International Labour Organization (ILO) and other leading countries of the world who profess concern for human rights violations and torture. This case was filed during the last stage of the World Cup final in which Qatar authority, FIFA, ILO, and the concerned Ministries of the Government of Bangladesh were made respondents. In this matter the hon’ble High Court has interfered by issuing a Rule to show cause by the respondent by addressing the allegation made in the petition. This matter is pending.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Barrister Sobhan dealt with 15 cases in the High Court of Hong Kong (1996-1999). He was founder member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association formed in Baden, Austria in 1984, representing Bangladesh. He attended the International Lawyers Association’s Conference in Vienna in 1984 and New York in 1986.
ASSOCIATES OF THE CHAMBERS
Barrister Fatema S. Chowdhury, is the Senior Associate of this law firm. She obtained her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Dhaka in English Literature. She got her Bachelors of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, UK, Masters of Laws (LLM) from University of Northumbria, UK and was called to the Bar from the hon’ble Society of Lincolns’ Inn.
Her subjects of the dissertation papers for LL.M were minority shareholders’ right in Company Law and comparative study of English Law and Bangladeshi Law. She specializes in the field of Commercial Law, International Trade Law, Intellectual Property Law Environmental Law, Constitutional matters.
She is practicing in the High Court Division and Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
A.F.M. Saiful Karim, obtained his Bachelors of Laws with honours (LL.B Hon’s) and Masters of Laws (LL.M) from Rajshahi University. He has been practicing before the hon’ble High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh since 2004 with Civil, Company, writ including constitutional matters and criminal cases.
Md. Liakat Hossain; is an Associate of Chambers. He is also an Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Presently he is practicing before the hon’ble High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and deals with the district court cases and specializes in civil and criminal cases.
OTHERS MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBERS
M. Aziz, a research associate of the Chambers holds a Bachelors of Laws (LL.B) Degree from Northumbria University and Masters of Laws (LL.M) from East London University, UK.
Aaudri A Siddiqua Sharina Khan, an associate of the Chambers, got her Bachelors of Laws LL.B (Hons) from the University of Westminster, UK, Masters of Laws (LL.M) from Queen Mary University of London, BPTC from University of law, UK and was called to the Bar from the hon’ble Society of Gray’s Inn.
Shahnila Sharina Khan, research associate of the Chambers holds Diploma in Law from University of London, Highter National Diploma in Law from Pearson, BA (Hons) in Law from University of Derby, UK.
Tashfina Z. Rahman. She got her Bachelors of Laws LL.B (Hons) from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, UK and now on a study leave to do her MBA in Canada.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Senator Robert F. Kenedy was his mentor. He admired his role as the US Attorney General during the invasion by the Cuban refugees living in Florida to stage a coup in Cuba to dispose President Fidel Castro but the attempt failed and the participants were apprehended in the beach on the landing. Attorney General Kenedy ensured their return by negotiating a deal with Castro.
In 1968 he decided to run for the Presidency of United States with the campaign promise to end the Vietnam War and fight for the dispossed disposed persons in US. He was assassinated in June 1968.
He considers Senator Kenedy not just as a political figure but a human being with compensation and only the German Chancellor Angela Mercal who allowed men, women, children fighting for their lives in the countries in Middle East involved in Civil War to come to Germany as refugees and settled their knowing full well that this gesture of humanity was highly unpopular with the German citizens which would cost her dearly and she understanding the sentiment of its citizens decided to resign and hand over a power could be conspired with him.
The views of Senator Kenedy towards fellow human beings had a profound influence over Barrister Masood R. Sobhan and that has been the reason why he filed so many Public Interest Litigations including the migrant workers’ rights seeking compensation from Qatar, FIFA, ILO.
He was perhaps the only Bangladeshi who was fortunate enough and had the unique experience to have spent ONE HOUR sitting with Lord Lois Mountbatten, the last Vice Roy of undivided India. Lord Mountbatten personally invited Masood R. Sobhan (then a law student in UK) to join him in the head table in Lincolns’ Inn Dining Hall in January 1977 arranged by the Pakistani students studding for Bar exam to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan, Barrister Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Head of Chamber
BARRISTER MASOOD R. SOBHAN
SOBHAN & SOBHAN
Chamber: House No. 15, Road No. 109,Gulshan, Dhaka-1212.
AND Room No. 221,Supreme Court Bar Association Building,Shahbagh, Dhaka-1000.
E-mail: sobhanandsobhan@yahoo.com
Cell: 01711522144, 01713039772