Obaidul Quader briefs president on AL’s stance over 16th amendment verdict

Senior Awami League leader Obaidul Quader has met President Md Abdul Hamid amid heated debates over the top court's verdict on the 16th constitutional amendment.

After the meeting on Monday, which lasted for almost an hour, Quader said it was meant to brief Hamid on his party's stance on the Supreme Court's decision that declared the amendment illegal.

"I have cleared the party's stance on the observations made in the 16th amendment verdict,” he told reporters at the Bangabhaban entrance.

Quader said he also briefed the president on his meeting with the chief justice. "The president appoints the chief justice as he is the custodian of the state. So, I have informed him what we discussed."  

On Saturday, AL General Secretary Quader met Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha at his residence.

He later told the media that he had briefed him on the party's stance.

Justice Sinha was also at the Bangabhaban on Monday to attend the president's reception for the Hindu community on the Janmashtami festival.

Quader entered the Bangabhaban around 12:30pm and left an hour later.

Asked whether they met, he said, "I have not met him. I was not aware that the president was hosting a reception."

On whether the government will seek a review of the verdict, Quader said, "We have opened talks with the chief justice and will not make any comment until the discussions are finished."

The 16th Amendment to Constitution empowered parliament to sack top court judges on the grounds of misconduct and incompetence.

Last year, the High Court declared the amendment ‘illegal’ and the decision was upheld on Jul 3 by the Appellate Division.

The full verdict was finally released by the Supreme Court on Aug 1.

In the 799-page text, Justice Sinha focused on politics, military rule, the Election Commission, corruption, governance and the independence of the judiciary.

The ruling party has criticised the verdict, but the BNP describes it as historic.

Law Minister Anisul Huq and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam have said they would move to expunge 'irrelevant and offensive' parts in the verdict's observation, but did not say how it would be done.