SCBA leaders lock horns over CJ issue

Rival leaders of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday held two opposing press conferences over the statement Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha made before leaving for Australia. Pro-BNP and pro-Awami League lawyers locked horns, as Bar Association vice-president Md Ajiullah held a press conference in the association’s auditorium right after its president Joynul Abedin did the same. Pro-BNP lawyers tried to prevent Ajiullah from holding the press conference in the Bar Association auditorium. Abedin questioned his authority to hold a press conference under the banner of the association after he had already done so as its president. Ajiullah held a press conference at the entrance of the association’s auditorium. He called upon the President to come forward to safeguard the judiciary.

“The Chief Justice is the guardian of the constitution. It is regretful that the Prime Minister has been egoistic about the issue,” he said. He called upon the premier to come forward to save the judiciary by shunning her “ego”. Abedin, who is also the vice-chairman of the BNP, called upon the acting Chief Justice to go slow for the sake of upholding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. In this regard, he mentioned the Chief Justice’s opinion that no acting Chief Justice has ever taken any major decision. Bar Association general secretary Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan questioned the law minister’s claim that the CJ was ‘sick’, as shown in the letter prepared by the law ministry. He

also demanded the resignation of the law minister and the attorney general. BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Bar Association vice-president Umme Kulsum Begum, Shamima Sultana, and Sheikh Tahsin Ali were present at the press conference. In the other press conference, Md Ajiullah disputed the statement of the Bar Association president, saying that it focused on political agenda. “The CJ has gone on leave willingly. He will come back after his leave and take part in trial proceedings,” he said.

Regarding the administrative change, he disagreed with the CJ’s statement, saying that the acting CJ, who has been given the charge in accordance with Article 97, will be able to perform all activities, including administrative and trial proceedings.

SCBA leaders lock horns over CJ issue

Rival leaders of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday held two opposing press conferences over the statement Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha made before leaving for Australia. Pro-BNP and pro-Awami League lawyers locked horns, as Bar Association vice-president Md Ajiullah held a press conference in the associations auditorium right after its president Joynul Abedin did the same. Pro-BNP lawyers tried to prevent Ajiullah from holding the press conference in the Bar Association auditorium. Abedin questioned his authority to hold a press conference under the banner of the association after he had already done so as its president. Ajiullah held a press conference at the entrance of the associations auditorium. He called upon the President to come forward to safeguard the judiciary. The Chief Justice is the guardian of the constitution. It is regretful that the Prime Minister has been egoistic about the issue, he said. He called upon the premier to come forward to save the judiciary by shunning her ego. Abedin, who is also the vice-chairman of the BNP, called upon the acting Chief Justice to go slow for the sake of upholding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. In this regard, he mentioned the Chief Justices opinion that no acting Chief Justice has ever taken any major decision. Bar Association general secretary Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan questioned the law ministers claim that the CJ was sick, as shown in the letter prepared by the law ministry. He also demanded the resignation of the law minister and the attorney general. BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Bar Association vice-president Umme Kulsum Begum, Shamima Sultana, and Sheikh Tahsin Ali were present at the press conference. In the other press conference, Md Ajiullah disputed the statement of the Bar Association president, saying that it focused on political agenda. The CJ has gone on leave willingly. He will come back after his leave and take part in trial proceedings, he said. Regarding the administrative change, he disagreed with the CJs statement, saying that the acting CJ, who has been given the charge in accordance with Article 97, will be able to perform all activities, including administrative and trial proceedings.