UNB, Dhaka :
Criticising Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for meeting the Chief Justice after the 16th amendment verdict, BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed said it is an ‘onslaught’ on the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said Law Commission Chairman ABM Khairul Haque should not only apologise to the nation, but also to
resign from the Commission for violating his service rule by holding a press conference to criticise the Supreme Court verdict.
“A top leader of the ruling party met the Chief Justice after the verdict. It’s a dangerous incident for the nation. It’s an onslaught on the independence of the judiciary. Social values and the dignity of the judiciary has also been undermined with it, the BNP leader said.
“The country’s judiciary had never ever seen such a big and direct attack on it in the past. They (ruling party) can’t understand the example they had set…it’ll remove justice and the independence of judges and the judiciary if it is followed in the future,” he further said.
Labour Party, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said he is certain that the ruling party leaders who are making derogatory comments about the 16th amendment verdict did not go through the judgement.
“It’s an enlightened and progressive judgment unanimously given by the seven judges of the Appellate Division to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The government and ruling party are now making all-out efforts to destroy it. They’re even waging a movement against the verdict which is unprecedented,” he observed.
The BNP leader warned that the consequences of the government’s efforts to destroy the judiciary, the last resort of people’ to get justice, will be a very dire one.
He said Awami League has exposed that it does not believe in the rule of law by taking an opposite stance on the Supreme Court’s verdict that annulled the 16th amendment.
The BNP leader said, the lower judiciary cannot work independently remaining under the Law Ministry and the administration due to the government’s political interference.
He said, Khairul Haque during his tenure as the Chief Justice worked as a devoted worker of Awami League.
He committed ‘two major judicial offences’ for which he should resign on moral ground.
Moudud alleged that Khairul Haque changed the short order on the 13th amendment annulling the caretaker government system while giving the full verdict on it 16 months after his retirement.
He said the ex-CJ also committed an ‘offence’ by holding a press conference to criticise the apex court’s 16th amendment verdict despite being a public servant as he is a chairman of the Law Commission. “He should alongside to the nation and step down from the Law Commission.”
Moudud said, the incidents of killing, rape and torture on women and children have marked a sharp rise in the country as the government has lost control over the law and order.
“An anarchic situation has been prevailing in the country now. Law enforcers, including Rab and Police, are being used to suppress the opposition leaders and activists. That’s why they’re being utterly failed to control the social crimes,” he observed.
Criticising Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for meeting the Chief Justice after the 16th amendment verdict, BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed said it is an ‘onslaught’ on the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said Law Commission Chairman ABM Khairul Haque should not only apologise to the nation, but also to
resign from the Commission for violating his service rule by holding a press conference to criticise the Supreme Court verdict.
“A top leader of the ruling party met the Chief Justice after the verdict. It’s a dangerous incident for the nation. It’s an onslaught on the independence of the judiciary. Social values and the dignity of the judiciary has also been undermined with it, the BNP leader said.
“The country’s judiciary had never ever seen such a big and direct attack on it in the past. They (ruling party) can’t understand the example they had set…it’ll remove justice and the independence of judges and the judiciary if it is followed in the future,” he further said.
Labour Party, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said he is certain that the ruling party leaders who are making derogatory comments about the 16th amendment verdict did not go through the judgement.
“It’s an enlightened and progressive judgment unanimously given by the seven judges of the Appellate Division to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The government and ruling party are now making all-out efforts to destroy it. They’re even waging a movement against the verdict which is unprecedented,” he observed.
The BNP leader warned that the consequences of the government’s efforts to destroy the judiciary, the last resort of people’ to get justice, will be a very dire one.
He said Awami League has exposed that it does not believe in the rule of law by taking an opposite stance on the Supreme Court’s verdict that annulled the 16th amendment.
The BNP leader said, the lower judiciary cannot work independently remaining under the Law Ministry and the administration due to the government’s political interference.
He said, Khairul Haque during his tenure as the Chief Justice worked as a devoted worker of Awami League.
He committed ‘two major judicial offences’ for which he should resign on moral ground.
Moudud alleged that Khairul Haque changed the short order on the 13th amendment annulling the caretaker government system while giving the full verdict on it 16 months after his retirement.
He said the ex-CJ also committed an ‘offence’ by holding a press conference to criticise the apex court’s 16th amendment verdict despite being a public servant as he is a chairman of the Law Commission. “He should alongside to the nation and step down from the Law Commission.”
Moudud said, the incidents of killing, rape and torture on women and children have marked a sharp rise in the country as the government has lost control over the law and order.
“An anarchic situation has been prevailing in the country now. Law enforcers, including Rab and Police, are being used to suppress the opposition leaders and activists. That’s why they’re being utterly failed to control the social crimes,” he observed.
