Justice Choudhury’s demand to impeach Chief Justice Sinha a blow to judiciary: BNP

Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury seeking removal of Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha is a blow to the judiciary, the BNP thinks.

The party's spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon expressed concern over the matter in a press conference on Wednesday.

People of the country were 'stunned' at Justice Choudhury sending a letter to President Md Abdul Hamid seeking Justice Sinha's impeachment on grounds of the latter’s alleged violation of the Constitution, breach of oath, and misconduct, Ripon said.

"The chief justice is not just an individual, but an institution. Such allegation has never been brought against a chief justice in the country's history," the BNP leader said.

"It has set a bad precedent. We think that such remarks against the chief justice by Justice Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik are a big blow to the judiciary," he added.

BNP International Affairs Secretary Ripon questioned Justice Choudhury's move noting that Parliament holds the authority to impeach judges after the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

"Shamsuddin Ahmed Choudhury sent the allegations to the president, not to the speaker, even after knowing that such matters fall under the purview of Parliament now," he said.

"It is clear that getting the chief justice impeached was not his goal. His goal was to malign the chief justice, lower his image; to create anxiety among justice-seekers by tarnishing the image of the chief justice," he added.

"The gentleman (Justice Choudhury) made the letter containing the allegations against the chief justice available to all. We think the government and the law ministry should ponder over the matter. A disaster cannot be avoided by keeping eyes closed," Ripon said.

"There are many elements like this Shamsuddin Choudhury within the government. I'll tell the government - you'll not need to suppress the opposition. The black sheep within the government are enough to harm you," he added.

He also said they supported chief justice withholding Justice Choudhury's pension.

He claimed Justice Choudhury had also made remarks about BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman in a recent programme distorting history.