Scuffle at Court
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s advance remarks on different issues are being reflected in the judgments of the higher courts. He has alleged that the government has forced people and judiciary to stand face to face bringing political matters in the court in a planned way. He was addressing a press conference held at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in the city on Thursday.
He said dignity of the judiciary had been tarnished as a High Court bench had banned 13 opposition-backed lawyers from practicing in any court of the country a day after it witnessed raucous protests against the two judges forming the bench.
He said the issues those could be resolved politically have been taken to the court creating an ‘instability in the country and pushing it into uncertainty’.
The BNP leader demanded withdrawal of a case filed on charges of allegedly hurling a plastic object at the judges during the protest of 14 opposition-backed lawyers. Alamgir said his party was surprised and aggrieved by the behaviour of the two judges as the judges ‘failed to play their role impartially’ although they took oath to uphold impartial judgment.
He claimed Khaleda Zia’s patriotism had been proven beyond doubt. Not only the common people of the country but also the lawyers were distressed over linking the BNP chief with unrelated cases, he added.
Fakhrul said, as part of politics of vengeance, the government raised questions about Khaleda Zia’s patriotism. “As part of a sequence, two judges of the High Court raised similar questions which is unexpected and politically motivated.” he said.
Criticising the linking Khaleda to the court order of writ against Mufti Fazlul Huq Aminee, Alamgir said it was now clear that some judges are blatantly loyal to the government. The judiciary was engaged in playing a partisan role, he complained.
Alamgir demanded immediate withdrawal of the suo motu rule that cancelled enrolment of pro-BNP 13 lawyers with the bar council and the cases lodged against a total of 14 pro-BNP lawyers with Shahbagh police station.
Responding to a query, Fakhrul said it proved that the country’s judiciary had been politicised massively and so the court could not take any measures against pro-Awami League lawyers although they also were engaged in chasing the pro-BNP lawyers on the court premises. Responding to another question, he said Khaleda Zia has made remarks only about the 15th amendment of the constitution instead of the whole charter. BNP leaders Abdullah Al Noman, Aman Ullah Aman, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Khairul Kabir Khokon and Masud Ahmed Talukdar were, among others were present at the press briefing.
-With The Independent input
