SCBA demands purge of biased judges
Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has called for the swift removal of all ‘controversial’ and ‘biased’ judges from the judiciary, urging greater transparency and accountability in the wake of last year’s political upheaval.
The demand was made during a press conference held on Wednesday (9 July) at the Shaheed Shafiur Rahman Auditorium of the Supreme Court Bar Association. The event was chaired by SCBA President Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon, with Acting Secretary Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon and other executive committee members also present.
Addressing the media, Barrister Khokon insisted that the authorities publicly disclose the number of judges perceived as partisan or loyal to the previous regime who have been removed since the people’s uprising on 5 August last year. He also called for the publication of a comprehensive list of judges accused of delivering verdicts influenced by political allegiance, urging appropriate constitutional action against them.
“Judges who approve remand on political grounds, deny bail to political leaders, behave inhumanely, or issue verdicts against opposition activists must be removed without delay,” Barrister Khokon declared.
He further criticised the current state of the country, saying, “Mob rule prevails, and under such conditions, the Bar elections should not be held.”
Khokon pressed for transparency regarding judges who helped maintain the Awami League government’s power, calling on the government and Chief Justice to identify those responsible and reveal the actions taken.
On the matter of establishing permanent High Court benches outside Dhaka, he emphasised that the Eighth Amendment case must be reviewed before any such move can proceed.
Additionally, Khokon highlighted the need to amend the Judges Appointment Ordinance, pointing out the absence of lawyer representatives on the judges’ appointment committee, despite the inclusion of subordinate court judges’ representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the SCBA, he concluded, “We urge the authorities to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary by promptly removing all controversial and biased judges.”