Accountability of three organs of state a must to run country

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lays the foundation of a multi-storey building of Dhaka Bar Association on Dhaka Judge Court premises yesterday. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government wants to establish accountability in all spheres, including the executive, the judiciary and the legislative, for a smooth run of the country towards progress.
She also called upon lawyers and judges to work in a way so that people can get justice without hassles.
The premier was addressing the foundation stone lying function of the multi-storey building of Dhaka Bar Association on Dhaka Judge Court premises.
Hasina informed her audience that appointing some 100 judges is under process for quick disposal of the pending cases.
"We are working to establish transparency and accountability in the executive body and, likewise, we want to establish transparency and accountability in the legislative and the judiciary also," she told the function.
The PM observed that a nation cannot step forward if the three organs of the state--legislative, judiciary and executive--do not work properly and harmoniously.
Hasina made it clear that her government would not allow injustice in the country and would try all injustices that had taken place in the past.
"We will try all anti-state activities, including the August 21 grenade attack, ten-truck arms case. We shall also try the November 3, 1975 killings."
She said that her government wants to eradicate terrorism and militancy from the country to give a safe place to the people to live in.
Referring to the development of the rural areas, she said, "We have to provide a strong economic base in the rural areas for development of the whole of the country."
She described her government's various activities for the welfare of the judiciary saying, "We never showed disrespect to the judges."
In this context, she mentioned that the BNP-led four-party alliance government did not make permanent 22 judges of the Supreme Court as they were appointed during Awami League's previous tenure.
"They were sent back. But during our tenure, we did not do that as Awami League knows how to show respects to the judges," she said.
She said that assuming office after the December 29, 2008 election her government appointed more than 200 judges to the lower courts and appointment of another 100 judges is under process.
Hasina urged the lawyers to look after people's cause so that they could get justice in the quickest time.
"One of the major aims of this government is to provide facility to the poor so that they could get justice," she said.
The PM mentioned that her government has taken initiative to introduce Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system in the country to save time and money of the people.
"You see, general people often lost their all wealth just to carry on with a case on a nominal issue. We want to stop this," she said.
The premier said that after getting the recommendation from the Law Commission, her government would start the ADR system.
Also, her government wants to put the legal aid system on a strong ground.
Hasina praised the lawyers for their bravery and important role after the 1/11 changeover as they supported her and the party leaders in facing the cases that were filed during the army-backed caretaker regime.
The PM also congratulated the lawyers on their playing a hectic role in ensuring justice in the killings of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
She said after the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, Ziaur Rahman "grabbed power illegally through violating the constitution and awarded the killers".
"Can you imagine self-confessed killers as ambassadors and high commissioners abroad? What was the reputation of the country then?" she questioned.
Hasina mentioned that at present her government's prime work is to advance the country and make it a real digital Bangladesh as is stated in her election manifesto.
Regarding the construction of the multi-storeyed Dhaka Bar Association building, the PM said that her government would provide Tk 20 crore as the president of the country pledged to give.
Presided over by the President of the Bar Association Mokhlesur Rahman, the function was also addressed by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmad, State Minister Kamrul Islam and Home Minister Sahara Khatun.
Later, the PM laid the foundation-stone of the multi-storeyed building and inaugurated the website of the Dhaka Bar.