Govt mounting pressure on CJ

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government was putting pressure on the chief justice over the Supreme Court verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment to the constitution.

The party also expressed concern over media reports that ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader had a meeting with Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha at the latter's residence on Saturday night.

"You [the government] are mounting pressure on the chief justice; you are saying publicly to change the verdict,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the BNP.

Speaking at a milad mahfil organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters, the BNP leader said, “We don't know what the Supreme Court's Appellate Division will do and what the chief justice will do. People of Bangladesh will not accept your [government] unjust acts.”

Regarding media reports on Quader's meeting, Fakhrul said, “After the working committee meeting of the Awami League, Mr Quader went to the chief justice's house.”

Mentioning that AL leaders criticised the chief justice, he said, “We are sorry, ashamed and shocked … what sort of conspiracy is hatching again to destroy democracy?”

The BNP leader urged the government and the ruling party men not to put any pressure on the judiciary. “Come to the right path. Don't destroy the institutions of democracy.”

Fakhrul also called upon BNP leaders and activists to unite to put up strong resistance against the current “autocratic regime”.

In another programme, BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed said the government has declared a war against the SC verdict on the 16th amendment to the constitution.  

He also demanded resignation of Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque, also a former chief justice, for his comments on the 16th amendment verdict.

“It is your [government] duty to ensure independence of the judiciary. But the way you are reacting; it seems that you have announced war against independence of the judiciary. But you would not be the winner and the consequences would be dreadful and would expedite your stepping down,” he said.

Addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, the former law minister also said it seemed that the AL leaders want to undermine the judiciary and its independence.

Criticising Justice Khairul, Moudud alleged that he was acting as a spokesperson for the government and he did the same when he was the chief justice.

He said Justice Khairul could not issue statement on the 16th amendment verdict, and his statement was a violation of his job's code of conduct.