In a talk show at TV Channel ETV on Sunday night Barrister Mainul Hosein attacked the motive for changing the Constitution for impeachment of Supreme Court judges by a parliament itself dishonestly declared elected as nothing noble but vile. The motive is to deny the supremacy of the judiciary by making it accountable to the parliament.Barrister Hosein emphasized that the idea of making the judges of the highest court answerable for their conduct to the parliament is repulsive for the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. Instead of rule of law the government wants to establish the rule of the party in power like in Communist countries.In India where the parliament retains the power of impeaching judges, there also whether one is guilty or not is determined by the judges themselves in the same way as is done under the present judicial council system.In continuing the discussion Barrister Hosein stated that manipulation for not making democracy work began soon after Bangladesh was born, though the justification of free Bangladesh was to make it an ideal democracy.At one stage of the talk show, Barrister Hosein denounced any belief as wrong that this government is ready to listen to any new suggestion or advice, it has abide by the plan thrust on it as a life-long arrangement to remain in power.In answering to a claim by one of the participants that the British Prime Minister David Cameron or the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not a fool to recognize and deal with this government if it were not legitimate, Barrister Hosein expressed surprise at such a claim coming from a former ambassador and clarified that other countries deal with a de facto government whether legal or not. The countries have to maintain country to country relationships. The question is not whether Cameron and Modi are fools, the question must be asked if we are so foolish as not to know what is democracy and what is not.Moderated by Mr Monzurul Alam Panna the programme was participated by Mr Mohammad Zamir, a former Ambassador and Mr Mizanur Rahman Khan, Associate Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo.
