4 SC judges take oath

Four newly appointed judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) took oath yesterday amid protests from pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers.
They staged an hour-long sit-in from 10:15am on the passage  linking the first floors of the SC and the SC Bar Association (SCBA) buildings protesting their appointment "by superseding seniors".
Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain administered oath to Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque, Justice Siddiqur Rahman Miah, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury at the SC Judges' Lounge amid tight security.
Around 60 out of 100 judges of the Appellate and the High Court  Divisions of the SC were present at oath-taking ceremony.
The protesters demanded resignation of the chief justice for administering oath to Justice Shamsuddin, and removal of Shamsuddin, saying he is controversial for different reasons.
They will stage demonstrations and hoist black flag on the SCBA premises to press home their demands, pro-BNP lawyer and SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, MP, told this correspondent.
Earlier yesterday morning, the SC authorities had locked the gate of the passage as the agitating lawyers chanted slogans against the chief justice and Justice Shamsuddin, and tried to enter the SC building.
The authorities opened the gate after the oath-taking ceremony at 11:00am, but the demonstrators then locked it creating problems for other lawyers till around 2:30pm.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and outgoing Vice President of the SCBA KM Saifuddin Ahmed felicitated the new judges after they were sworn in.
On Thursday, acting president Abdul Hamid appointed the four HC Division judges to the Appellate Division of the apex court.