Dr Kamal leads ‘all-party’ lawyers committee to ‘protect judiciary’

A committee of lawyers, including some pro-government ones, has been formed with Dr Kamal Hossain as its head to protest against the government's move to restore Parliament's power to remove judges through a constitutional amendment.

The committee 'to protect the independence of the judiciary' was announced on Tuesday after a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samiti (democratic lawyers’ association) at the Supreme Court building in Dhaka.

Pro-Awami League lawyers' leaders Barrister Amir-Ul Islam and Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud’s names are also on the committee, but they said they would not be a part of it.

Both Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad leaders were present at the discussion. But no other leaders from the faction led by Abdul Baset Majumder were there.

Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-Chairman Khandker Mahbub Hossain made the official announcement. He is also the president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and an advisor to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Kamal Hossain, who played a vital role in drafting Bangladesh's first Constitution, is the committee convenor.

The first Constitution in 1972 gave Parliament the authority to settle the tenure of top judges and decide about their removal.

The president was then vested with the power through the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution in 1975.

After military ruler Ziaur Rahman usurped state power, the Fourth Amendment was annulled and a Supreme Judicial Council was formed following an order to enforce the impeachment rule, which is still in effect.

The ruling Awami League is now trying to hand the power back to Parliament.

The lawyers' move to form the committee was made after the 'Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill-2014' was tabled in Parliament for passage on Sunday.

Khandker Mahbub had announced the names of Amir-Ul Islam, another member of the body that drafted the 1972 Constitution, and Rokanuddin Mahmud as joint convenors of the committee.

Islam is a former Awami League MP. Mahmud is a former president of the SCBA with the ruling party's backing.

Along with Khandker Mahbub, former caretaker government advisor Barrister Moinul Hossain and Supreme Court lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik were made joint convenors.

SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon is the member secretary. This former MP is also the BNP's Joint Secretary General.

Subrata Chowdhury, president of a faction of the Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samiti, a member of the pro-government Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad, was made the Assistant Member Secretary.

All of them were present at Tuesday's programme where the committee was announced.

Despite his attendance, Amir-Ul Islam later told bdnews24.com that no-one discussed the matter with him or Rokanuddin Mahmud before forming the committee.

He said he would not be part of it.

"Barrister Khandker Mahbub Hossain announced the committee. We didn't go there at his invitation. We went there just to attend the discussion."

Mahmud has also confirmed bdnews24.com that he would not be a member of the committee.



"What committee? I went to a discussion and gave my opinion. Who is Khandker Mahbub to announce a committee? They are just taking advantage of the situation," he said.