Allegations not true

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday the allegations against two newly appointed High Court judges are false, and he hoped they would be sworn in soon.
“The gazette notification regarding appointments of the High Court judges is still in force. The appointments are legal and valid. I think the allegations brought against the two judges are false,” he told journalists after attending the launching ceremony of a book.
“I hope swearing-in of the two judges will be held soon,” the minister said.
On Sunday, the chief justice swore in 15 of the 17 newly appointed HC judges, leaving out Ruhul Quddus Babu and Md Khasruzzaman as per his earlier decision.
The allegations against the two are that Ruhul Quddus was an accused in a case and Khasruzzaman had kicked the entrance to the attorney general's office building on November 30 in 2006.
Replying to a query, Shafique said all the newly appointed judges are efficient and honest.
Meanwhile, the launching of the book titled Bangabandhur Swadhinatar Ghoshana: High Courter Oitihashik Rai, published by Subarna Prakashani, was held at the Liberation War Museum in the city. The book is based on the HC verdict that said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the proclaimer of independence.
Speakers at the launching ceremony said terming any one other than Bangabandhu proclaimer of independence is a violation of the constitution.
Those who spoke included Awami League lawmaker Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Prof Muntasir Mamun, artist Belal Mohammad, Shahriar Kabir and advocate Manzill Murshed. Justice Golam Rabbani presided.
RECONSTITUTE HC BENCHES: PRO-BNP LAWYERS
A group of pro-BNP lawyers yesterday urged the chief justice to reconstitute some High Court benches with senior judges for hearing and disposing the important cases including the writ and bail petitions.
The senior lawyers made the appeal at a meeting with chief justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim at his Supreme Court office in the afternoon.
The chief justice assured them of looking into the matter, a lawyer, who was present at the meeting, told reporters.
The lawyers included TH Khan, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Rafiqul Islam Mia, and Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and its secretary Badruddoza Badal.
The chief justice recently reconstituted some 32 benches of the HC following the appointment of 15 new judges.