BNP questions independence of judiciary

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday questioned the independence of the judiciary after a former ruling party MP and his wife were granted bail hours after they had been ordered to be sent to jail in Pirojpur.

"The Pirojpur incident has exposed that the government is controlling the judiciary," he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remark while talking to reporters in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office before appearing before a Dhaka court.

On Tuesday, Pirojpur district and sessions Judge Abdul Mannan passed an order to send former AL MP AKM Awal and his wife Laila Parvin to jail rejecting their bail prayers in three corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last year.

As local Awami League leaders and activists and pro-ruling party lawyers started demonstrations on the court premises protesting the order, Judge Abdul Mannan was stand-released. Joint District and Sessions Judge Nahid Nasrin was made the acting district and sessions judge of Pirojpur a few hours later.

The acting district and sessions granted the couple bail for two months accepting a review petition filed by them.

Fakhrul said the court was forced to grant bail.  

"This incident has proved there is no rule of law in the country. It has also nakedly manifested that the judiciary is not independent here."