Petition challenges them holding office

A writ petition was filed with the High Court yesterday challenging the legality of Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq holding office, since the Supreme Court in a judgement observed they had violated their oath and the law making derogatory comments about the judiciary.

SC lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed it seeking directives for the two to explain under which authority they have been holding office.

Under Public Servants (dismissal on conviction) Ordinance, 1985, a government servant will be dismissed if jailed for six months or fined Tk 1,000 and the SC earlier fined the duo Tk 50,000 each for contempt of court, Eunus said in the petition. He told The Daily Star that the petition might be heard today.

Meanwhile at a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan office, Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed demanded that the duo resign for the violation, saying a minister cannot retain his post on being punished by a court.

Led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, the eight-member Appellate Division bench imposed the fine, in default to serve seven days in jail, he said, adding that the duo had also violated the constitution, which was a serious criminal offence.