16th Amendment to cling to power: BNP

The Parliament is being given the authority to remove Supreme Court judges as part of the government’s plan to establish one-party rule, the BNP has claimed.

Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party will organise a movement against the proposed amendment

A Cabinet meeting on Monday approved the 'Constitution (16th Amendment) Act, 2014' for adding the provision to impeach Supreme Court judges over proven offences or incapability by the vote of a two-thirds majority.

Law Minister Anisul Haque speaking to reporters at his office said ‘nations considered most civilized and with the parliamentary system’ like the UK, India, Australia and New Zealand have this constitutional provision.

But Fakhrul said the government was trying to secure its stay in power through the ‘barrel of the gun’.

“A draft law to give back MPs the power to remove judges is being placed in the Cabinet today. This is how they plan to implement one party rule – BAKSAL in the country.”

File Photo

Article 96 of the 1972 Constitution allowed the removal of judges by Parliament until military ruler Ziaur Rahman cancelled it and bestowed the power to a Supreme Judicial Council through the Fifth Amendment.

The High Court later declared the Fifth Amendment illegal but the earlier provision was not restored.

Earlier, Fakhrul, accompanied by Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and other leaders and activists, placed floral wreaths on the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for the founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Swecchasebak League.