Process on to pass 16th amendment

The procedure to pass the Bill to revive the Parliament's power to investigate and remove Supreme Court judges through a constitutional amendment has begun in Parliament, reports bdnews24.com.

Law Minister Anisul Huq around 7:40pm on Wednesday placed the 'Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill-2014' with a proposal for consideration of its passage with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad were present.

The Parliament had spent nearly three hours to pass the 15th Amendment to the Constitution on June 30, 2011.

The 16th Amendment requires introduction of a law to guide the investigation and gathering of evidence on incapability or misconduct of a judge. The judge will be sacked if the accusations are proved.

Through this latest amendment, the power to remove judges is returning to Parliament after 40 years.

The first Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972 had given Parliament the jurisdiction to settle the tenure of top judges and decide about their removal.