Law Minister warns jurists against graft
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
FE Report
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed Tuesday warned that the government would take punitive action against "corrupt" jurists if any specific graft allegation is labelled against them.
Since its separation from the executive in 2007, the minister said the judiciary has been enjoying independence and is free from government interference.
"We'll not hesitate to take stern action, if any specific case of corruption is brought against a judge," the law minister said at a luncheon, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in the city.
"Today, the Supreme Court is responsible for appointment and transfer of judges," Barrister Shafiq said as he brushed aside the allegation of an opaque process of recruitment of judges.
"The executive branch has nothing to do with it," he added.
The law minister said the entire judicial system is plagued by the prolonged process of disposing of cases.
With the fresh appointment of judges in the High Court, he is hopeful that it would help speed up the justice delivery in the country's apex court.
Shafique Ahmed said that democracy could not flourish without establishment of rule of law.
He also lauded the High Court judgment declaring void the fifth amendment to the Constitution that changed the preamble and the four pillars of the Constitution.
The parliament should not pass any legislation that goes against the spirit of the Constitution, the minister said, dwelling on how the four fundamental principles of the Constitution were violated by the post-75 military regimes.
"Parliament is the creation of the Constitution," he said questioning how a creation could destroy its creator.
Mr Shafique said the responsibility of the execution of law lies with the government, but citizens also must be ready to accept the law, even if it is harsher.
The law minister said his government does not favour the much-debated extra-judicial killings.
"Whoever commits the unlawful act, he must be brought within the ambit of law and be taken to task," he said.
The present government is determined to nab the suspected Islamic militants and undertake a programme to reeducate them, Mr Ahmed said, urging common citizens to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by providing information.
"They (militants) say we're practising worldly laws. Instead, they want laws of Allah, but they can't explain what the laws of God are," the minister told the elite audience.
The law minister alleged that many of the militants were trained up in the war-torn Afghanistan and are now providing training to their Bangladeshi compatriots.
AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed chaired the luncheon meeting, attended by businessmen, officials and representatives of development agencies.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed Tuesday warned that the government would take punitive action against "corrupt" jurists if any specific graft allegation is labelled against them.
Since its separation from the executive in 2007, the minister said the judiciary has been enjoying independence and is free from government interference.
"We'll not hesitate to take stern action, if any specific case of corruption is brought against a judge," the law minister said at a luncheon, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in the city.
"Today, the Supreme Court is responsible for appointment and transfer of judges," Barrister Shafiq said as he brushed aside the allegation of an opaque process of recruitment of judges.
"The executive branch has nothing to do with it," he added.
The law minister said the entire judicial system is plagued by the prolonged process of disposing of cases.
With the fresh appointment of judges in the High Court, he is hopeful that it would help speed up the justice delivery in the country's apex court.
Shafique Ahmed said that democracy could not flourish without establishment of rule of law.
He also lauded the High Court judgment declaring void the fifth amendment to the Constitution that changed the preamble and the four pillars of the Constitution.
The parliament should not pass any legislation that goes against the spirit of the Constitution, the minister said, dwelling on how the four fundamental principles of the Constitution were violated by the post-75 military regimes.
"Parliament is the creation of the Constitution," he said questioning how a creation could destroy its creator.
Mr Shafique said the responsibility of the execution of law lies with the government, but citizens also must be ready to accept the law, even if it is harsher.
The law minister said his government does not favour the much-debated extra-judicial killings.
"Whoever commits the unlawful act, he must be brought within the ambit of law and be taken to task," he said.
The present government is determined to nab the suspected Islamic militants and undertake a programme to reeducate them, Mr Ahmed said, urging common citizens to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by providing information.
"They (militants) say we're practising worldly laws. Instead, they want laws of Allah, but they can't explain what the laws of God are," the minister told the elite audience.
The law minister alleged that many of the militants were trained up in the war-torn Afghanistan and are now providing training to their Bangladeshi compatriots.
AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed chaired the luncheon meeting, attended by businessmen, officials and representatives of development agencies.