CJ joins PM's reception on Eid day

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha exchanged greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha on Saturday.

It was the first meeting between the two since the Supreme Court scrapped the 16th Amendment to the Constitution recently.

The CJ went to the Gono Bhaban, the PM's official residence, around 11:00am to attend a reception hosted by Hasina for diplomats, politicians, bureaucrats and other eminent citizens on the Eid day.

Since his appointment as the chief justice in January, 2015, Sinha has visited the Gono Bhaban and the Bangabhaban on every Eid occasion, said the CJ's private secretary Mohammad Anisur Rahman.

On this Eid day, Hasina exchanged greetings with the CJ and talked to him. Both of them were seen smiling. The PM then posed for a photograph with the top court judges, including Sinha.

Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana was also seen talking to the CJ for some time.

The CJ also exchanged Eid greetings with President Abdul Hamid at his official residence, the Bangabhaban.

The Awami League leaders, however, don't think the meeting between Hasina and Sinha would soften the ruling party's stance on the 16th amendment verdict.

Rather, they said, they would discuss the issue at the next parliament session beginning on September 10.

Party sources said AL lawmakers would continue to be vocal against the CJ for his observations in the 16th amendment verdict.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, AL presidium member and former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru termed the meeting “just a courtesy” and said nothing should be predicted out of that.

Party Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam echoed Khasru's views and said the meeting had no “negative or positive impact on anything”.

President Abdul Hamid exchanges greetings with Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha during a reception at Bangabhaban on Eid day. Photo: PID

“Problems have surfaced due to irrelevant observations made by chief justice [in the verdict]. Our stance [on the issue] will be same as before. We will seek review of the judgment and demand that some of the observations made by the chief justice be expunged,” he said.

Another party joint general secretary, Abdur Rahman, also found nothing in the meeting. “This situation can't continue. We will discuss the issue and raise our position [on the issue] in the next parliament session.”

Passed in 2014, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution had restored parliament's powers to remove SC judges for misconduct or incapacity.

Last year, the High Court declared the amendment illegal and the decision was upheld by the SC on July 3 this year. The apex court released the full verdict on Aug 1.

Since then, the ruling AL, including party president Sheikh Hasina, have been criticising and the BNP has been praising the verdict. Some of the AL leaders even demanded removal of the CJ.