CJ's remark jolted govt's base, says BNP

BNP senior leader Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman today said Chief Justice (CJ) SK Sinha's recent remark on signing and writing judgement after retirement has shaken the foundation of the current government like a tremor.

"We welcome the chief justice's comment as he spoke the truth with courage discharging the duty bestowed upon him. His remark has wobbled the government's foundation like an earthquake," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, "Chief Justice SK Sinha has triggered the tremor within the government with a 6.8-magnitude one that jolted the country a few days back."

Zia Nagorik Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's 80th birth anniversary.

In a message on the occasion of the first anniversary of his taking office as the 21st chief justice of the country, Surendra Kumar Sinha said some judges make unusual delays in writing verdicts while others continue to write it even long after their retirement, which goes against the law and the constitution.

Referring to the current CJ's comment, BNP has now renewed its push that the judgement on the 13th constitutional amendment declaring the caretaker government illegal was unconstitutional as ex-CJ ABM Khairul Haque wrote and signed it 16 months after he went on retirement.

Mahbub, a BNP standing committee member, also claimed that the government which standing on the 10th parliamentary polls and the 15th constitutional amendment also turned illegal and void with the chief justice's remark.

He alleged that the government assuming office through an 'unconstitutional' election on January 5 has continued repressive acts to cement its power by suppressing the opposition and those who differ with it.

Mentioning that the country's people are now in a deep crisis losing democracy, BNP leader urged political parties to get united to overcome it through a national consensus.

Mahbub said there has been a conspiracy for a long time to split BNP, but no one will be able to break away the party if its workers follow the ideals of Ziaur Rahman.