In free Bangladesh, three unthinkable incidents took place which changed the course of our politics. I am not seeking an explanation as to how or why these happened. In my view, it is most important to understand how things went wrong and how to save ourselves from the blood feuding politics.This was observed by former advisor to the caretaker government, Barrister Mainul Hosein, while, speaking at a discussion on the 8th year of independence of the Judiciary from the executive at the National Press Club on Saturday He said, first thing was the loss of democratic leadership of the Awami League that was born and suffered for the cause of democracy. The second incident was the tragic death of Bangabandhu. The third one was the Supreme Court’s judgement on the 15th constitutional amendment by which the sitting government was helped to hold parliamentary elections without resignation and without declaring the parliamentary seats vacant. This will go down in the history as a judicial coup against democracy.Mainul Hosein also said, “After that judicial coup against democracy, the parliament felt emboldened to amend the Constitution for assuming power to try the judges of the Supreme Court. The judges of the highest court will now be living constantly under the threat of impeachment by the government.” “By alluring them to be politicised, both the journalists and the lawyers in free Bangladesh have lost their own professional status, strength and commitment. They are now divided along party lines between the Awami League and the BNP for political favour,” he added. The former advisor to the caretaker government said the lawyers and the journalists must cease to be party activists for saving democracy and independence of the judiciary and the press. The press has to act as voice of the people and the lawyers as fighters for independence of the judiciary. “The only freedom most important to us now is the freedom from fear — fear of insecurity and rising violence. Such a crisis cannot be overcome by blame game,” he said.”So, the obvious conclusion is that we must save democracy for independence of the judiciary,” Mainul Hosein added.Former chairman of Human Rights Commission Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, in his speech, said the government has separated the Judiciary keeping many issues under its control like appointment, transfer and others which hampers independent activities of the judiciary.Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association, advocate Joinul Abedin said, “The government made the Judiciary an independent division keeping impeachment of the justice under National Parliament. Is it not self contradictory?”It is not possible for the Justices to work freely until they are getting full independence,” he added.Humanity Foundation, a voluntary organization, has arranged the discussion.Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Mojumder, vice president of Bangladesh Bar Council advocate Baset Majumder also spoke among others, at the programme.Former governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed moderated the programme while joint editor of The Prothom Alo Mizanur Rahman Khan presented the key note paper.
