Regarding protesters gathering at the High Court premises and demanding the chief justice’s resignation over various allegations, Prof Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Law, said the chief justice should determine his fate to protect the dignity of the judiciary.
He also said that the chief justice should respect the demands of the student people.
Dr Asif Nazrul said this while talking to reporters in front of his office at the Secretariat on Saturday morning.
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan had called for a full court meeting with all judges from both divisions of the Supreme Court, which was later postponed.
Referring to the complaints of the protest leaders, Asif Nazrul said: "I have seen the students' complaints. The way the chief justice had called the full court meeting seemed like a move in favour of the defeated autocratic forces. Before I comment on this, I want to say a few words, our chief justice is a very respectable person. However, there were questions about him, especially during this movement. He had questioned whether a verdict can be changed by protest. This was not well received by people."
Mentioning chief justice had received bouquets from the leaders of the Chhatra League after taking his oath, he said: "In my opinion, this was a violation of the code of conduct and did not make a good impression. Additionally, he accepted a golden sword as a gift from former DB chief Harun, who is notorious for torturing students pulled from hospitals and ruthlessly killing protesting students."
He said that when he went abroad, he stayed at the residences of various Awami League leaders. There were various controversies about him.
He said: "Especially during this student movement, he commented on what all the protest was about. The reaction was not good. Students had demanded his resignation. That demand has risen again today (Saturday)."
Describing it as an "unfortunate incident," this law professor from Dhaka University said: "Such unfortunate incidents should not happen. We believe the Supreme Court is our biggest institution for protecting the Constitution and human rights. No one should do anything that positions the Supreme Court against the mass movement of the students."
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders have announced a siege of the High Court due to fears of a judiciary coup.
The protesters gathered in front of the Supreme Court's annexe building from 11am on Saturday.
