United Lawyers Front alleges: CJ commits unprecedented event in SC history ULF to boycott CJ’s felicitation on Oct 8
Staff Reporter :
United Lawyers Front (ULF), a platform of the anti-government lawyers including pro-BNP lawyers, on Tuesday alleged that newly appointed Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has committed an unprecedented event in the Supreme Court’s history of 52 years by receiving greetings from the student body of the ruling Awami League.
The organization made the allegation at a press conference organized at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) building.
In a written statement, ULF central Convener Advocate Zainul Abedin said, “After the appointment, the new Chief Justice has received floral greetings from the central President and Secretary of the student body of the ruling Awami League, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), whose report has been widely circulated in the print, electronic and social media.
It is an unprecedented event in the Supreme Court’s history of 52 years and, according to senior lawyers, a moment of extreme pain for the judiciary.”
“Not only this, the lawyers’ community of the country was shocked and appalled after media coverage of the Chief Justice receiving a large ‘sword’ as a gift from controversial police officer and chief of the police’s Detective Branch Harun Or Rashid, at a district association felicitation program two days after taking oath.
The felicitations and various speeches before the commencement of official duties have called into question the highest constitutional judicial post like the Chief Justice,” also read the written statement.
“A reception was held in honor of the Chief Justice at the Netrokona Stadium on October 1 this year.
Vice-President of Netrokona District Awami League presided over the Program, while General Secretary of the District Awami League conducted it.
The meeting was attended by the State Minister of the government, members of Parliament of the controversial 2018 polls, judges, local bureaucrats and police officials and workers of the District Awami League and its affiliates.
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan lost the dignity and honor of an impartial position like the Chief Justice by accepting a party reception of Awami League. At this, the common people’s distrust in the judiciary is deepening.
The judiciary will fall into deep crisis. However, we feel that it is your responsibility as head of the Judiciary to make this organization reflect the will of the people… remain impartial and preserve the independence of the Judiciary.”
Co-Convener of the ULF Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Chief Coordinator of the ULF Barrister Kayser Kamal, Senior Advocate AM Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Advocate Mohsin Rashid, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, among others, were present in the press conference.
The statement further said that the lawyers of the United Lawyers Front and ad-hoc committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) will boycott the felicitation program of the new Chief Justice that is scheduled to be held on October 8. The lawyers will hold a protest procession on the SCBA premises in support of boycotting decision.
