Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and BNP chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain on Wednesday said their leader Khaleda Zia will legally fight the sedition case filed against her over her remarks on the number of the 1971 Liberation War martyrs.
Speaking at a press briefing at SCBA president’s office, he also said Khaleda is aware of the court’s summon asking her to appear before it on March 23.
“The BNP chairperson will face the sedition case legally… She’s also aware of the summon copy issued against her and will take all necessary legal steps to face the case” he told reporters.
Replying to a question, Mahbub said she did not receive the summon copy as he is well informed about it. “Summon could be issued against anyone to inform the accused person about any case filed against him or her. Is there any rule of pasting the summon order on the wall of a residence of a person,” he questioned.
The CBA president said Khaleda Zia is a law-abiding citizen, and she will take every necessary masseur to deal with the case legally. “The government is doing politics over the issue though there’s no seditious element in the case filed against her.”
On Monday, Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi filed the sedition case with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court against BNP chairperson for her remarks about the number of martyrs during the 1971 Liberation War.
Taking cognizance of the charge under sections 123 (A), 124 (A) and 505 of Bangladesh Penal Code, the court asked Khaleda Zia to appear before it on March 3.
On Tuesday, a court official pasted the summon order on the main gate of Khaleda’s Gulshan residence as no one from the house had received it in her favour.
Earlier on December 21 last, Khaleda Zia at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh raised questions about the actual number of Liberation War martyrs saying, “There’re controversies over how many freedom fighters were martyred in the Liberation War. There’re also many books and documents on the controversies.
Mahbub also criticised the ruling party leaders for making statements in parliament countering Chief Justice SK Sinha’s comment on writing and signing verdicts after retirement. “It’s regrettable and it’ll tarnish the image of the Judiciary.”
He alleged that the government is trying to make the issue political one.
Recently, the Chief Justice said some judges make unusual delays in writing their verdicts while others continue to write that even long after their retirement, which goes against the law and the constitution.
BNP quickly cashed in on the Chief Justice’s statement and said the 15th amendment to the constitution revoking the caretaker government system is illegal as it was done based on such a judgment.
In the wake of the controversy triggered by the CJ’s remarks, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday told Parliament that writing verdicts by the High Court judges after their retirement is not unconstitutional or illegal.
Awami League MP Suranjit Sengupta said holding the office of the Chief Justice, SK Sinha has created tension in national politics, which is unacceptable.
