UNB, Dhaka :
Terming unethical and illegal the 16th constitutional amendment by an illegitimate parliament, the BNP-led 20-party alliance on Saturday alleged that the government did it to perpetuate one-party rule and impose authoritarianism on people.
“Being politically bankrupt, Awami League with its heinous motive to perpetuate its illegal and unethical power bestowed
upon parliament the authority to remove honourable judges through the 16th amendment to the constitution in a parliament which lacks people’s mandate,” said 20-party spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Addressing a press briefing, he also said, “Every one is of the opinion that Awami League has passed the constitution amendment bill to bolster its one-party rule and impose dictatorship on people.”
The press briefing was held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office after a meeting of senior leaders of the 20-party alliance.
Parliament on Wednesday passed the much-talked-about ‘Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill, 2014’ without any opposition, paving the path for establishing its power to remove Supreme Court judges.
Fakhrul, also the BNP acting sorcery general, lamented that the power to sack judges has been given to an unelected parliament. “The illegal and unethical parliament has no jurisdiction to amend the national charter. It’s totally unlawful, unprincipled and contrary to the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.”
The alliance leaders think that the judiciary has now gone under the control of the ruling party after the amendment as Awami League has got the power to dismiss judges.
“One of the fundamental institutions, judiciary, has been completely politicised. The fear of denying justice always hunts people as the judges will remain under psychological pressure following the amendment,” he observed.
