Unidentified youngmen hurled crackers at the residence of Justice Kazi A T Manowaruddin at New Bailey Road in the city yesterday, leaving a chauffeur badly injured.

The attack came immediately after a High Court verdict declaring the continued boycott of Parliament by Opposition MPs illegal.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Kazi A T Manowaruddin and Kazi Shafiudldn, in their verdict ruled. "The continuous boycott of Parliament by the opposition parties -is- itle£dl '

Witnesses said, three or four youngmen lobbed five crackers inside the premises at 16. New Bailey Road, a two-storey house shared by Justice

Manowaruddin and an Income-tax lawyer. Mosharraf Hossain The home-made bombs were hurled soon after Mosharrof Hossain returned home In his white Toyota Corolla rar around 115 pm

Mosharrof Hossain who has been occupying the first floor of the house for the past seven years told The Dally Star "When I was ellmblng up the stairs. I heard explosions and my driver Anwar Hossain screaming. I rushed down and saw my driver blood soaked and the windshield of the car (bearing number Chittagong Kha 2251 damaged

Anwar Hossain was admii ted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with shrapnel wounds on his body and hands

Justice Manowaniddin said he was not at home during the Incident.

'After pronouncing the Judgement. I was waiting In my court chamber I rushed home after receiving a phone call from home

When asked if the Incident was related to the verdict Justice Manowaruddin told The Daily Star, "I don t have any enemy ft is an obvious conclusion.'

"When we talk about an Independent Judiciary, such In cidents are very unfortunate for the country." said the Judge, adding: "Still there is a. scope for appeal. Also, we've even Issued a certificate for the respondents to appeal.

The Judge, who lives on the ground floor, said, both Mosharraf Hossain and he had white Cars. Perhaps the at tackers thought I was in the car." he added.

Mosharraf Hossain claimed he did not have any rivalry which might have prompted the bomb attack.

An eyewitness said, three or four youngmen aged between 20 and 25. who were waiting near the house, hurled crackers inside the house.

A case has been lodged with the Ramna police but no arrests reported. Police contingents were deployed in the area, as well as at the residence of Justice Manowar uddin.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTAJ. in a statement last night, condemned the incident and demanded punishment of the culprits.

The Dhaka unit of the

Jatiyatabadi Alnjibi Forum condemned the bomb attack at the residence of the Judge

In a press release, the unit said that some miscreants had lobbed the bombs at the residence of Justice Manowar iKidin Immediately after pron ouncement of the judgement in the case against the conUn uous boycott of the House by the Opposition Parliament members.

The Forum also said that passing comments before the pronouncement of any judgement and such incidents soon after any verdict were contrary to the concept of rule of law and Independence of the Judiciary.