Govt dismisses BNP claim that Justice Sinha was forced to resign

The government has brushed aside the BNP's claims that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha was forced to resign and advised the party not to “muddy waters to fish in”.

Law Minister Anisul Huq’s remarks came while speaking to the media at his residence in Dhaka’s Gulshan after the news of Justice Sinha's resignation was out on Saturday.

When Sinha went on leave in October amid criticism by the ruling Awami League over the appeals verdict scrapping the 16th constitutional amendment the party had passed, the BNP alleged the government forced him to take the leave.

The BNP again claimed Justice Sinha was forced out after the president's office confirmed receiving his resignation letter.

“He has sent his resignation letter from abroad. How can we force him? We did not send a peacekeeping force, did we? These statements are absurd," Law Minister Anisul told the media.

“Maybe those who want to fish in muddy waters are saying this. I would like to tell them that the water is very clear; there is no scope of fishing,” he said using the idiomatic expression as a warning against taking advantage of a difficult situation.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also said at a programme in Gazipur: “There are claims that we forced him to resign. Where did the resignation letter come from -- Singapore or Canada?”

“It came from Singapore. We don’t have our police or any special government force there. Mr Sinha himself sent the resignation letter from abroad. And it’s already reached the honourable president,” he said.

“What’s the government’s fault while five judges have no confidence in Mr Sinha?” he asked, referring to a Supreme Court statement which said Justice Sinha’s colleagues in the Appellate Division did not want to work with him after corruption allegations against him.