Lawyers' groups hold counter-demos

Pro-Awami League lawyers yesterday staged demonstrations at different bar associations across the country, demanding expunction of “unexpected, irrelevant and unconstitutional observations” in the verdict on the 16th amendment case.

They held rallies and formed human chains under the banner of Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad as part of their three-day protest programme.

Addressing a rally at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in the afternoon, Parishad's Member-Secretary Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh alleged that the editor of an English daily prepared the draft of the CJ's observations in the judgment.

“… We know who are involved in the conspiracy. We will unmask them one by one before the nation. We know from where this draft [of the observations] came. The editor of an English national daily prepared the draft. We condemn this.

“The other six judges didn't agree with such irrelevant, unconstitutional and undemocratic comments. We thank them. We also demand expunction of the irrelevant comments,” he said.

The Parishad demanded that the SC expunge the observations through a suo moto move.

Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (JAF), a platform of pro-BNP lawyers, held rallies at the SCBA and other bars in the country, demanding resignation and arrest of Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque for “breaching the code of conduct” by holding a press conference on the SC verdict.

At the Awami Ainjibi Parishad's meeting, its Convener Yusuf Hossain Humayun said they rejected the observation that “No nation, no country is made of or by one person”.

Its Joint Convener Abdul Baset Majumder said there is no room for the judgment to stand, as it has insulted Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“I call upon the Supreme Court to amend the verdict immediately through a suo moto move,” he said.

Lawyer Abdul Matin Khasru demanded expunction of the “unexpected” remarks on Bangabandhu before the SC goes on vacation on August 25.

He claimed the verdict contains “derogatory and irrelevant” comments about the Jatiya Sangsad and the Election Commission.

The CJ's comments in the verdict are irrelevant to the main issue of the case, added Khasru, also an AL lawmaker.

AL Law Affairs Secretary SM Rezaul Karim said the comments on Bangabandhu have to be withdrawn through a suo moto move.

The nation can't understand why the SC declared legal the provision formulated by a martial law regime and why it declared illegal the law made by parliament, he added.

Pro-AL counsels Nurul Islam Sujan and Fazilatuuensa Bappy also spoke at the rally.

Talking to The Daily Star, Rezaul said lawyers held rallies at 64 of the 73 bar associations across the country with the demand for expunction of the “irrelevant” observations in the verdict.

At the same time, the JAF held a rally at the SCBA, demanding resignation and arrest of Khairul.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon, secretary general of the JAF, said Khairul should be arrested and tried at “Gono Adalat” for making derogatory remarks about the SC verdict.

Contacted, he said JAF leaders and members held protest programmes at 55 bar associations across the country yesterday.

Awami Ainjibi Parishad held a rally also at Dhaka Bar Association and brought out a procession, protesting “the derogatory remarks” on Bangabandhu in the judgment.

Parishad leaders criticised the role of Chief Justice SK Sinha and urged him to step down immediately.

Lawyers Abdullah Abu, Kazi Nazibullah Hiru and Taposh Kumar Paul, among others, spoke there.

On the other hand, leaders and activists of pro-BNP forum JAF held a rally at the Dhaka bar, demanding immediate removal of Khairul for making “derogatory comments” on the SC judgment.

Lawyers Masud Ahmed Talukder, Abdullah Mahmud Hassan and Sanaullah Mia, among others, spoke there.

They also brought out a procession on the court premises.

Our Narayanganj Correspondent reports: tension prevailed on the district court premises as both pro-AL and pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations.

No untoward incident took place there.

Tangail district unit of Awami Ainjibi Parishad staged a demonstration on the court premises, demanding expunction of “unnecessary” observations in the SC verdict.

At the same time, JAF leaders and activists brought out a procession there, welcoming the SC verdict and demanding removal of the Law Commission chairman.

Later, they tried to stage a demonstration but police barred them.

In Chittagong, pro-AL lawyers held a rally on the district court premises, protesting the “irrelevant” remarks in the SC verdict. 

Earlier, they had brought out a procession.

On the other hand, the JAF organised a rally in the court area, demanding immediate arrest and removal of Khairul.

Our Kurigram correspondent adds: pro-AL lawyers staged demonstrations on the district judge's court premises around 1:00pm.

However, pro-BNP lawyers didn't hold any protest programme on the court premises.