BNP accuses govt of controlling judiciary through politicisation

FE Team | Published: July 08, 2019 23:44:26

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged on Monday the government is controlling the judiciary through its politicisation for hanging onto power, reports UNB.
"Since it came to power in 2008, Awami League politicised the judiciary in a cunning way to ensure its absolute power. Now there's no independence of the judiciary as it has been regulated by the government," he said.
He also alleged the ruling party has turned Bangladesh into a 'failed state' with its efforts to establish one-party fascist rule by politicising the judiciary, the last resort of people for justice.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city protesting a Pabna court's recent verdict sentencing nine BNP activists to death and jailing 25 others for life, for attacking a train carrying then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in 1994.
Fakhrul said his party is always against any form of terrorism and it wants the proper trial of any such incident. "But Awami League is using such incidents for making political gains."
He claimed no one was injured in the train attack carried out around 25 years back during BNP's rule, but BNP leaders almost at all levels have been implicated and convicted in the case filed over the incident. "This verdict is contrary to justice and politically motivated. We strongly condemn and protest it."
The BNP leader alleged the government is completing all the preparations for "deporting democracy" from Bangladesh forever to cement its power by destroying all the democratic institutions.
He said the Pabna court delivered the verdict in the case which was pending with the High Court.
Besides, Fakhrul said local Awami League leader Aminul Islam, who had been arrested from the spot and made the number one accused, was given only life term jail while nine BNP men were given capital punishment.
He said the current parliament is not elected as Awami League took the results of the 11th parliamentary election in its favour by force using the state machinery. "That's why no state organ is now accountable to people and an anarchic situation has been created in all the institutions, including the judiciary."