Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the law minister to finalise shortly the draft of constitution amendment proposals, allowing parliament to impeach Supreme Court judges for misconduct and violation of law.
In reply, the minister said the proposals might be placed in cabinet soon and later in parliament for its passage, several cabinet members attended the meeting at the Secretariat told the Dhaka Tribune.
The premier also expressed discontent over the recent comments made by Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali about journalists and asked him to refrain from making comments in the future.
During informal discussions after the regular meeting, the council of ministers also talked about the Mawa launch capsize and unrest over dues at Tuba Group garment units, several ministers told the Dhaka Tribune.
Condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza, the prime minister ordered the Foreign Ministry to take diplomatic initiatives to stop the atrocities against Palestinians, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
The cabinet once again discussed a condemn motion yesterday. On July 15, it accepted a condemn motion and urged the international community to stop the Israeli atrocities.
When contacted, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said Bangladesh would intensify its diplomatic efforts collectively and use the UN, the OIC, the NAM or any other international platform to raise its voice to stop atrocities in Gaza and support the cause of Palestine and its people.
The cabinet also approved an agreement titled “Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports” prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the UN. The Shipping Ministry would sign the agreement shortly, the cabinet secretary said.
Impeachment a priority
At present, parliament has no authority to impeach or remove the top court judges. But according to the 1972 constitution, parliament could impeach the judges for violating the constitution or for misconduct.
BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, amended Article 96 of the first constitution, curtailing the authority of the legislature over the judiciary. He also introduced the new mechanism of Supreme Judicial Council. The chief justice heads the three-member council. The provision still exists in the constitution.
After the regular cabinet meeting, several ministers said, the premier had enquired the law minister about the progress of preparing of the draft of constitution amendment.
“Law Minister Anisul Huq informed the premier that the draft was already finalised. It will be placed in the cabinet meeting immediately after getting the official consent of the prime minister,” a senior minister told the Dhaka Tribune.
Hasina remained silent for some time hearing about the development and said nothing further on the matter.
The ministers talked to the Dhaka Tribune think that the draft proposal would be placed in the next parliament session.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Mojibul Haque Chunnu admitted that the premier and the law minister had discussed the issue after the formal meeting. He, however, denied making any further comment.
Labour Law needs revision
Chunnu told the Dhaka Tribune that he had raised in the meeting the issue of further amendment to the Labour Law.
“I have requested the prime minister to give verbal nod to initiate further amendment to the Labour Law. It is needed to set a time-frame for concluding trial of cases filed in the labour courts. At present, thousands of cases are pending with the court, but the plaintiffs are not getting justice as it takes a long time to dispose of the cases,” he added.
The junior minister said it should be made mandatory for the court to complete the trials in a stipulated time-frame, possibly two to three months. “It will help the plaintiffs realising compensations from the accused immediately.
“Though the prime minister said nothing regarding my proposal, I have instructed the labour secretary to amend sections 123 and 307 of the Labour Law. It will hopefully be completed shortly.”
Mohsin Ali defends remarks
Hasina came down heavily on the social welfare minister for his bitter comments regarding the journalists.
A senior minister told the Dhaka Tribune: “After the meeting, the premier enquired the senior minister about the matter. She asked, ‘How did you make comments on journalists which created agitation in the media?’”
Explaining his stance, Mohsin said: “I could not control myself when some of the journalists were making unwanted comments regarding the prime minister and the finance minister. I commented on the journalists who made such comments only, not all the journalists.”
The premier heard Mohsin and asked him not to make such comments further which might create tension in any community.
Another senior minister said the capsize of Pinak 6 launch and the labour unrest in Tuba Group had also come up for the informal discussion. The premier enquired about progress of the issues.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government had handled the troubles during the Eid-ul-Fitr excellently. But, it had to face critical situation and criticisms regarding the launch capsize and the labour unrest over Tuba Groups workers’ hunger strike for three months’ dues. “The situation is now under control,” he said.
