Removal decision taken to ‘resolve debate’
The decision to remove Lady Justice’s statue from Supreme Court premises was made by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha himself, mainly to resolve the debate over this issue peacefully.
Two highly placed officials of the Supreme Court told The Daily Star on request of anonymity that the decision of the chief justice was made in consideration of the “overall situation”.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself disagreed to keep the statue there,” one of them said.
They, however, said there was no pressure from the government to remove the statute. The chief justice is yet to decide what will be the next about the sculpture, they added.
Read More: Statue of Lady Justice on SC premises removed
The statue was a much discussed issue – especially after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaking in line with Islamists, voiced in favour of removing the statue from the apex court premises.
Finally, in the late hours of last night, the statue was taken down. Ruling Awami League has said the government has no jurisdiction in this regard and it was a decision taken solely by the apex court.
Read Also: Now Islamists want all statues removed, everywhere
A meeting where ‘remove it’ was univocal
On Thursday, the chief justice held a meeting with the present and former presidents and secretaries of the Supreme Court Bar Association to solicit their opinions about the statue and its debate.
Advocate Zainul Abedin, president of the Bar association, said there was a request from the government to remove the statue as the premier was against keeping it on the apex court premises.
“We suggested the chief justice to relocate the statute from the Supreme Court premises in order to keep the apex court and the chief justice above any debate,” he said.
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The association’s Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told The Daily Star that all who were present in the meeting opinionated that the statue should be removed to uphold Supreme Court’s dignity, honour and image.
“As the statue is seen from the Eidgah, all of us suggested to remove the statute and relocate it the old Roads and Highways premises so that no debate takes place,” Advocate SM Rezaul Karim, a former SCBA secretary, who was present in the meeting, told The Daily Star.
Previously, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told The Daily Star that “They [SCBA’s present and former presidents and secretaries] opined that it should be removed to avert any untoward situation.”
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