Suranjit reneges on promise, reviews 16th Amendment Bill without talks

The parliamentary committee on law ministry has finished its review of the Bill on 16th Amendment to the Constitution without holding any of its promised talks.

Committee chief Suranjit Sengupta, who had earlier spoken of holding dialogues with the government, the judiciary and other political parties, is now saying there is no need for discussions.

Although chief opposition Jatiya Party at first declared that it would oppose the Bill, it too has changed its tone and rallied behind the planned amendment.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after a committee meeting, Suranjit said they had done a minute analysis of the bill and would submit its report to Parliament within Thursday if possible.

He repeated that the preamble was being dropped from the Bill.

Earlier, the senior Awami League leader had said he would call the Supreme Court, the Bar Council and BNP, as a political party, to hear their views on the amendment bill.

The committee had also asked the law minister to speak to the government about its views.

But on Wednesday, he said, “We are restoring article 96 word for word from the 1972 constitution. There’s nothing new in here, so we don’t need a discussion. But we will hold discussions when introducing the new law.”

Law Minister Anisul Huq, who attended the committee’s meeting, said, “I’ve said before the law will be formulated within three months of the amendment. We will speak to everyone before doing it.”

The amendment pending with Parliament requires that a law be introduced to guide the investigation and gathering of evidence of incapability or misconduct of a judge.

"A judge won't be removed upon any allegation. Follow-up laws will be introduced. That law will mandate an investigation committee, which will be formed with relevant, responsible people," Suranjit had said on Tuesday.

"When they send their suggestions Parliament will simply approve the matter. Only the president, who appoints the judges, has the power to remove them.”

On Wednesday, Suranjit said, “The million dollar question is who will be on this committee. That is what we’ll discuss. There will be people from the judiciary as well.”

About a committee formed with Dr Kamal Hossain at the head to resist the amendment, the law minister said, “This is a democratic nation. Everybody has the right to speak. We have nothing to say on this.”

Suranjit, though, remarked that those doing this had been ‘confused’. “I hope their confusion will be over soon,” he added.

Indicating Kamal Hossain and Barrister Amir-Ul Islam, he said, “They wrote the Constitution. We respect them. I want to state clearly that the court will not be sullied.

“Rather it will be enriched. There will be more transparency and accountability.”