Two ministers, AG join PM to discuss 16th amendment verdict with president at Bangabhaban

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have discussed the Supreme Court verdict on the 16th constitutional amendment in a meeting at the Bangabhaban.

The meeting that discussed other issues was also attended by the law minister, Awami League general secretary and attorney general.

As debates fired up over the verdict, the prime minister paid a courtesy call on the president at his official residence on Wednesday evening.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam reached Bangabhaban before Hasina.

Law Minister Anisul Huq was also seen entering the building.

Quader, also road transport minister, went to see the president earlier on Monday, a day after meeting Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha over the Supreme Court's decision to scrap the 16th constitutional amendment, which took away parliament's power to sack judges.

Quader then said he had briefed the president about the Awami League's stance on the Supreme Court's decision.

After Wednesday's meeting, Quader told reporters outside the Bangabhaban that they discussed the flood situation in the north and a foiled militant 'plot' to attack Aug 15 mourners.

Asked whether they discussed the 16th amendment verdict, Quader said, "The verdict was also discussed. We spoke about the issue." 

"But we couldn't reach any decision. There'll be more talks," he added.

In being asked what the president advised about the verdict, he said, "I can't say that."

The prime minister left the Bangabhaban around half an hour before Quader spoke to media.

The law minister and the attorney general left the Bangabhaban just after Quader, but both ducked questions from reporters.

The Appellate Division published the full verdict on the amendment on Aug 1. The chief justice's observation on Bangladesh's politics, past dictatorships, electoral commission, corruption, governance and judiciary in the verdict has sparked sharp reactions.

The government, which had passed the 16th amendment in 2014, announced that it will get 'some unacceptable parts' erased from the verdict. 

The decision to take away parliament's power to sack judges over misconduct and incapacity has, however, been hailed as historic by the BNP.