Rational discussion not taking place

Noted rights activist Barrister Sara Hossain yesterday said there is hardly any rational discussion on the verdict of 16th constitutional amendment.

Instead of having any logical discussion, people are expressing their emotions, she said at a dialogue organised by Bangladesh Debate Federation (BDF) at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in the capital.

Sara Hossain's comment came at a time when Awami League leaders severely criticised the verdict and many of them sought resignation of Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha while BNP leaders welcomed the verdict.

The Supreme Court on August 1 released the full text of its verdict, scrapping the 16th amendment to the constitution that had given parliament the power to remove SC judges for misconduct or incapacity.

Dr Redwanul Haque, professor of law department at Dhaka University, said, “According to the verdict, the basic structure of removing judges should be done by supreme judicial council while independence of the judiciary is also another basic doctrine.”

In some countries, judges are removed by the supreme judicial council while by the parliament in some others, he said. However, the Maldives follows the both, he added.

Mizanur Rahman Khan, associate editor of daily Prothom Alo; Dr Abdur Nur Tushar, CEO of Nagarik TV; Barrister Siddiqur Rahman Khan, a lawyer of Supreme Court; and Hasan Mahmud Biplab, lawyer and former president of BDF, also spoke at the programme.

The speakers said the irrational debate surrounding the 16th amendment should be stopped, or else any undemocratic power may leap at the chance.