CJ should have quit: PM

Hasina slams SK Sinha for questioning effectiveness of JS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday blasted Bangladesh's comparison with Pakistan saying Chief Justice SK Sinha should have quit before making such comparison and defaming parliament, while issuing a strong note warning against illegal power capture, report agencies.

“I will tell one word that everything could be tolerated, but comparing Bangladesh with Pakistan cannot be acceptable,” she told a function coinciding with the anniversary of the August 21, 2004 grenade attack. Sheikh Hasina urged people to judge the comparison with Pakistan, posing a question “Why Bangladesh would be compared with Pakistan and Pakistani premier.”

“There would be no benefit in giving me such a threat,” she said.

The premier said usurping state power would not be allowed further in Bangladesh and “if anybody tries to do it he or she must face trial according to Article 7 of the constitution".

The premier said the verdict scrapping the 16th constitutional amendment contained many contradictions while the chief justice raised question about electing women parliament members in the reserved seats.

According to parliamentary system, she said, the President is elected by the parliament members including women lawmakers, while the President appoints the chief justice.

She said if the women lawmakers are not elected then how the President would be elected.

"When you (chief justice) make criticism in this regard, then you will have to accept other.  ... so you should have stepped down before making such a comment," she said.

The prime minister said people are the strongest power in Bangladesh and people's power has been established in the sacred

constitution saying 'People are the source of all power'.

"People's court is the biggest court; no one can ignore people's court... I'm lodging my complaint with this court... I want justice from the court of people," Sheikh Hasina said, adding that there are some sudden statements, political talks and threats coming from the higher court.

Citing the Supreme Court observations that 'MPs are criminals' and there are 'businessmen' in Parliament, the Prime Minister said, "Doing business isn't a sin. What's the problem if any businessman becomes an MP?"

Questioning various statements undermining Parliament, she said, "We've taken the country to the path of a democratic system in a long process of struggle, movement and blood."

Mentioning that the president, as per the constitution, appoints the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, Hasina said the Chief Justice is trying to snatch the President's power. "Being appointed by the President, how can he take away the constitutional power from the President?"

About the Supreme Judicial Council, she said the Chief Justice chose the system introduced by Ziaur Rahman who illegally grabbed power. “The higher court declared the Zia regime illegal,” she said.

The Prime Minister criticised SK Sinha for blocking the Anti-Corruption Commission’s probe against Justice Joynal Abedin who gave a false and untrue report as ordered by the BNP government on the August 21 grenade attack on the AL rally. “When the ACC sought an inquiry, the Chief Justice gave a letter stating that this probe can’t go ahead. How could he say that being the Chief Justice? Saving a corrupt person and pampering him aren’t the task of the Chief Justice. This is sheer negligence to the Constitution.”

About the much-talked-about 16th amendment to the Constitution, Hasina said she has doubt whether other judges of the Appellate Division had the scope of freely giving their opinions. “The Chief Justice might have not given them that scope,” she said, adding that many things can be understood after reading the verdict.

She said there are many irreverent issues in the verdict. “Those should be placed before the nation because those mislead the nation. With this, no one can get justice.”

Mentioning that there are many contradictions in the verdict, she said, “I’m reading it and taking note. I’ll speak about these in Parliament.”

Hasina said the government has given the organisational shape to every institution of the country and has taken steps so that these institutions could move independently. “Independence is good but there’s a proverb ‘independence is not for boy’. We never expect childish attitude,” she said.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke on the occasion.

Workers’ Party chief and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, Jasod president and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua, Jasod leader Mainuddin Khan Badal and eminent novelist Imdadul Huq Milon, among others, took part in the discussion.

Earlier, the Prime Minister placed wreaths at a makeshift memorial of martyrs of the gruesome grenade attack on August 21, 2004. The memorial was set up by Awami League in front of the KIB.

She first placed a wreath at the memorial as the Prime Minister and then another, flanked by leaders of Awami League, as the party president.

Cabinet members, PM’s advisors, senior leaders of Awami League and 14-party combine and family members of the martyrs and those injured in the incident were present.

After the programme, Sheikh Hasina met the relatives of the victims of the grenade attack.

Twenty-four leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies, including the then Mohila AL president Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered splinter injuries in the attack and many of them became crippled for life.

Though Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack, she had lost her hearing ability due to the impact of the repeated grenade blasts near the truck-dais of the huge public rally.

CJ should have quit: PM

Hasina slams SK Sinha for questioning effectiveness of JS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday blasted Bangladeshs comparison with Pakistan saying Chief Justice SK Sinha should have quit before making such comparison and defaming parliament, while issuing a strong note warning against illegal power capture, report agencies. I will tell one word that everything could be tolerated, but comparing Bangladesh with Pakistan cannot be acceptable, she told a function coinciding with the anniversary of the August 21, 2004 grenade attack. Sheikh Hasina urged people to judge the comparison with Pakistan, posing a question Why Bangladesh would be compared with Pakistan and Pakistani premier. There would be no benefit in giving me such a threat, she said. The premier said usurping state power would not be allowed further in Bangladesh and if anybody tries to do it he or she must face trial according to Article 7 of the constitution. The premier said the verdict scrapping the 16th constitutional amendment contained many contradictions while the chief justice raised question about electing women parliament members in the reserved seats. According to parliamentary system, she said, the President is elected by the parliament members including women lawmakers, while the President appoints the chief justice. She said if the women lawmakers are not elected then how the President would be elected. When you (chief justice) make criticism in this regard, then you will have to accept other. ... so you should have stepped down before making such a comment, she said. The prime minister said people are the strongest power in Bangladesh and peoples power has been established in the sacred constitution saying People are the source of all power. Peoples court is the biggest court; no one can ignore peoples court... Im lodging my complaint with this court... I want justice from the court of people, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that there are some sudden statements, political talks and threats coming from the higher court. Citing the Supreme Court observations that MPs are criminals and there are businessmen in Parliament, the Prime Minister said, Doing business isnt a sin. Whats the problem if any businessman becomes an MP? Questioning various statements undermining Parliament, she said, Weve taken the country to the path of a democratic system in a long process of struggle, movement and blood. Mentioning that the president, as per the constitution, appoints the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, Hasina said the Chief Justice is trying to snatch the Presidents power. Being appointed by the President, how can he take away the constitutional power from the President? About the Supreme Judicial Council, she said the Chief Justice chose the system introduced by Ziaur Rahman who illegally grabbed power. The higher court declared the Zia regime illegal, she said. The Prime Minister criticised SK Sinha for blocking the Anti-Corruption Commissions probe against Justice Joynal Abedin who gave a false and untrue report as ordered by the BNP government on the August 21 grenade attack on the AL rally. When the ACC sought an inquiry, the Chief Justice gave a letter stating that this probe cant go ahead. How could he say that being the Chief Justice? Saving a corrupt person and pampering him arent the task of the Chief Justice. This is sheer negligence to the Constitution. About the much-talked-about 16th amendment to the Constitution, Hasina said she has doubt whether other judges of the Appellate Division had the scope of freely giving their opinions. The Chief Justice might have not given them that scope, she said, adding that many things can be understood after reading the verdict. She said there are many irreverent issues in the verdict. Those should be placed before the nation because those mislead the nation. With this, no one can get justice. Mentioning that there are many contradictions in the verdict, she said, Im reading it and taking note. Ill speak about these in Parliament. Hasina said the government has given the organisational shape to every institution of the country and has taken steps so that these institutions could move independently. Independence is good but theres a proverb independence is not for boy. We never expect childish attitude, she said. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke on the occasion. Workers Party chief and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, Jasod president and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua, Jasod leader Mainuddin Khan Badal and eminent novelist Imdadul Huq Milon, among others, took part in the discussion. Earlier, the Prime Minister placed wreaths at a makeshift memorial of martyrs of the gruesome grenade attack on August 21, 2004. The memorial was set up by Awami League in front of the KIB. She first placed a wreath at the memorial as the Prime Minister and then another, flanked by leaders of Awami League, as the party president. Cabinet members, PMs advisors, senior leaders of Awami League and 14-party combine and family members of the martyrs and those injured in the incident were present. After the programme, Sheikh Hasina met the relatives of the victims of the grenade attack. Twenty-four leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies, including the then Mohila AL president Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered splinter injuries in the attack and many of them became crippled for life. Though Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack, she had lost her hearing ability due to the impact of the repeated grenade blasts near the truck-dais of the huge public rally.