Quader, Moudud touch same chord on removal of Lady Justice statue

The Awami League’s Obaidul Quader and the BNP’s Moudud Ahmed have made similar comments on the removal of the Lady Justice statue from the Supreme Court premises following demand by Islamist hardliners.

The leaders of rival parties say the Supreme Court removed the statue and the government had no role in it.

The statue was removed in the wee hours of Friday, around one and half months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bowed to the Islamists' demand.

Leftist parties, even in the Awami League-led coalition, have protested against the ruling party's recent slant towards Islamists. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leaders said the Awami League might have lost the plot. 

Islamist groups like Hifazat-e Islam and Awami Olama League had demanded removal of the sculpture before Ramadan and it has been done three days before the month of fasting for Muslims.

Though the protesters against the removal of the statue have criticised the government, Awami League General Secretary Quader told reporters in Gazipur on Friday that the removal of the statue was a court decision.

"The government has no powers to remove the statue of the Greek goddess in any way. It's the Supreme Court's decision," he said after visiting work to develop the Dhaka-Tangail Highway to a four-lane one in Chandra.

Meanwhile at a rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud, a political rival of Quader in Noakhali, spoke in a similar tone.

"I want to let you know that our honourable chief justice (Surendra Kumar Sinha) himself took the decision to remove the statue. He has not done it on government orders," he said.

Moudud, a Supreme Court lawyer, referred to Supreme Court Bar Association General Secretary and BNP leader Mahbub Uddin Khokon, and said the chief justice consulted all the senior lawyers before removing the statue.

"They told him that it would be better if the statue was removed," Moudud said.    

But he criticised the government for creating pressure for the removal of the statue.

"There had been many debates. Everyone, including the prime minister, spoke in a manner that suggested they would initiate steps (for its removal)."