2 HC judges controversial: BNP demands withdrawal of case against 13 lawyers

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday termed "controversial" the two High Court judges who on Wednesday banned 13 lawyers from practising in any court of the country following a pandemonium in the court.

He demanded rescinding of the HC order and withdrawal of the case filed against these lawyers on charges of assaulting law enforcers and preventing them from doing their duties during the chaos at the court on Tuesday.

"Controversial judges brought Khaleda Zia's speech (recent remarks on the constitution) to the fore only to carry out orders of the executive wing (of the state) and to please them with political ill-motive," Fakhrul said at a press briefing at the party central office at Naya Paltan in the capital.

He went on, "Speech of the two judges (in the HC) about Khaleda Zia reflects the views of the prime minister…This proves that some judges are blindly loyal to the ruling party, and they implement the prime minister's vendetta through their orders… To them, the prime minister's message is the message of justice."

An HC bench gave the order concerning the 13 opposition-backed lawyers on Wednesday, a day after it witnessed raucous protests against the two judges forming the bench.

On Tuesday, pro-government and pro-opposition lawyers engaged in a chaos in the courtroom, and a small plastic object was allegedly hurled at the judges when the bench observed that the BNP chief's comments on the constitution are tantamount to sedition.

Earlier on July 13, speaking at a programme protesting the fifteenth amendment to the constitution, Khaleda said the constitution has now become a manifesto of the ruling Awami League, and it will be thrown away when her party returns to power.

Asked if the BNP chief would withdraw her remarks, Fakhrul said "No. She made the remarks in the context of the fifteenth amendment, not about the constitution as a whole."

Referring to Tuesday's incident at the HC, he said BNP is surprised, angry and stunned at the attitude of two judges. "The government is creating these complexities just to put the judiciary and the people face to face."

The BNP leader further said, "The attitude of the judges greatly harmed dignity of the judiciary. They remain loyal party workers even after taking oath as judges."

Source : The Daily Star