Emergency rules not in force, argues Huda
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Former communications minister Nazmul Huda Monday said the state of emergency was no more in force since the constitutionally-mandated 120 days had gone by after emergency rules were clamped, reports bdnews24.com.
He said the constitution stipulated that the emergency powers and rules must be approved in parliament within 30 days of its formation.
But the government had not taken the approval, the detained former BNP minister said at the Special Judge's Court-2, housed in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Huda and his wife Sigma Huda are standing trial on the charge of taking Tk 24 million in bribe from a contracting firm.
Huda, a barrister, told Judge Amar Kumar Roy that the emergency government had filed "false" cases against some politicians to bar them from the upcoming elections.
He said he was a victim of the "Minus Two Formula", referring to an alleged move by the military-backed emergency government to exile former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from politics.
"The present government has filed the case against me to prove me a corrupt person to stop me from participating in the election," he said.
He said the constitution stipulated that the emergency powers and rules must be approved in parliament within 30 days of its formation.
But the government had not taken the approval, the detained former BNP minister said at the Special Judge's Court-2, housed in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Huda and his wife Sigma Huda are standing trial on the charge of taking Tk 24 million in bribe from a contracting firm.
Huda, a barrister, told Judge Amar Kumar Roy that the emergency government had filed "false" cases against some politicians to bar them from the upcoming elections.
He said he was a victim of the "Minus Two Formula", referring to an alleged move by the military-backed emergency government to exile former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from politics.
"The present government has filed the case against me to prove me a corrupt person to stop me from participating in the election," he said.