Lawyers demand chief justice’s resignation

BNP-affiliated lawyers demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Wednesday after the Supreme Court suspended a High Court order granting interim bail to party leader Khaleda Zia. The lawyers first expressed their indignation inside the courtroom on Wednesday morning after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Khurshid Alam read a statement before a four-member Appellate Division bench led by the chief justice. After the bench stayed Khaleda’s bail and fixed Sunday for a hearing, the lawyers brought out a procession on the Supreme Court premises and shouted slogans against the chief justice. Khaleda’s lawyer, Zainul Abedin, told reporters outside the court that they were “hurt” that the apex court issued the order after hearing only one party. “We cannot find perfect words to describe the court’s order,” he said. “The top court usually listens to both parties before issuing an order, but as soon as the ACC lawyer presented the appeal today, the court said to file a leave to appeal on Sunday and that the bail will be stayed until then. “He [the chief justice] did not listen to our argument and did not give us the minimum opportunity to face the case legally. Instead, it approved a stay order.” Last month, Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in embezzling funds from a trust set up in the name of her late husband, Ziaur Rahman. “The highest court never interfered in such short sentences,” said the lawyer, who described the move as “unprecedented and unexpected”. “We wanted to tell the court that Khaleda Zia could not get out of jail even if you do not issue a stay order; the government will not let her out. Already, it has planned to arrest her in various cases. “If you issue a stay order, it will have a negative effect on the people. But the court did not listen to us.” The lawyer hoped that the court would listen to both parties on Sunday. “[We hope] the court will vacate today’s order keeping in mind the previous examples and Khaleda Zia will walk free.”This article was first published on banglatribune.com