Judges protest in Law Ministry: Scuffle with police: Removal of Law Secy demanded

More than 100 judges, additional judges and assistant judges of the District Courts yesterday protested the move to divide the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs into two sections without consulting them as they were apprehensive of their future.
The judges entered the Secretariat at about 10:00 AM and headed for the Ministry of Law defying security system, and staged demonstration demanding resignation of the Secretary of Law. At one stage they had scuffle with on duty policemen who resisted their entry without passes.
The judges led by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge who is also president of Judicial Service Association Md Abdul Gafur and Secretary Md Shajahan Saju stormed the room of Minister for Law Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who was on way to attend the cabinet meeting. They requested the minister to give them time to hear their grievances.
They were taken to the conference room by the minister where when the law minister was in the midst of his discussion with the judges someone informed the home ministry that a large number of people had entered the Secretariat without passes and they were holding demonstration. Further these people have held the law minister and the state minister for law hostage.
Soon after a large number of armed police gathered at the Law Ministry and asked the waiting judges whether they had entry passes and reasons for entry into the Secretariat.
Thereafter the law enforcers requested them to go out of the Secretariat. This ensued in a tussle between the police and the judges. At one stage the Minister himself came to the spot and tried to pacify both sides. When their shouting reached climax and the situation became hot, the Law Minister left the place to attend the cabinet meeting.
Later, State Minister for Law Advocate Qamrul Islam requested the judges to keep their cool and place their demands. Then the judges placed their demands to ensure their position and dignity as per Rules of Business while dividing the law ministry.
They also demanded the removal of the Law Secretary for harassing them with the police help. The State Minister held out the assurance that their demands would be reviewed. Later, he also left the place to attend the cabinet meeting.
At one stage the judges addressing the newsmen in the Secretariat corridors narrated their demands. Secretary General of the judicial association Shahjahan Saju said that they were subjected to harassment by the police though they were at the Secretariat to submit their just demands. The judges left the Secretariat at around 11-30 AM.
On return from the cabinet meeting, the Law Minister told newsmen that the incident was unexpected and sad. He said a team of judges could place their demands adding there was no need to be at the Secretariat in large number. He however, said that they were in favour of accepting the just demands of the judges.
He said some demands of the judges have already been accepted. He said the facilities of the judges have been enhanced and their security has been increased. Responding to a question the law minister said that judiciary is now fully free and if required the Supreme Court could look into this incident.

Courtesy of The New Nation