Staff Reporter :BNP senior leaders at separate discussion in the city on Friday criticised the government for its much talked-about move to re-empower the Parliament to remove the Supreme Court judges through the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. The leaders also came down heavily on the government for its plan, what they said, to enact another law for banning hartal in the country. Addressing a discussion organized by Ziaur Rahman Foundation at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), party standing committee member Tariqul Islam accused the government of hanging the judicial independence through the 16th Amendment. BNP chairperson’s adviser Ameer Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr Zafrullah Chwdhury of Gonosastyo Kendro also addressed the function, among others. Tariqul Islam alleged that the 16th Amendment Bill had been introduced to keep the SC judges under pressure. “The government will not be able to save them through establishing full control over the court and enacting any other law, as their (government) downfall will be ensured soon through a tougher movement,” he asserted. BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia addressing a separate function in the city said that the government would not last long through amending the Constitution, as it would be forced to arrange a mid-term election by December. “Many people say, BNP can’t do anything through movement. BNP chairperson is not saying anything for strategic reasons. She will disclose her strategy within a short time. Then the government will have no alternative but to arrange a fresh mid-term election,” he said. Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP organisation, arranged the discussion at the National Press Club with president of the forum Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah in the chair. BNP central leaders Zainul Abdin Farroque, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Khairul Kabir Khokon also spoke, among others. Rafiqul Islam Mia said the government is going to pass the ’16th Constitution Amendment Bill’ in the Parliament amid opposition from various quarters, even a part of pro-Awami League senior lawyers. Alleging that the government wants to establish its full control over the judiciary in a bid to cling to power, he said that any move could not save the government. He said there is no rule of law in the country. No one is safe in the hands of the present government. People are being killed every day. In this backdrop, a strong movement has to be waged against the government to ensure its downfall, he said, calling upon the leaders and workers of the party to ready for the movement under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. Meanwhile, BNP vice chairman Abdullah-al-Noman speaking at an another function in the Press Club also came down heavily on the government for planning to enact another law banning strike alongside with the government’s move to amend the Constitution. The government is planning to ban the hartal fearing mass people’s movement in the coming days, he said.
