CJ to keep 12 HC judges off court amid student protests

The chief justice will assign no benches to the twelve judges for the time being,’ Aziz said.

He added that discussions between student leaders and the court had preceded the announcement, followed by a consultation with the chief justice.

Acknowledging the procedural complexities of removing judges, Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan said that currently no law existed governing such removal.

Earlier, the Supreme Court struck down a move by the now ousted Awami League government to establish a law allowing judges’ removal through parliamentary procedures.

A government petition seeking a revision of this decision is scheduled for a hearing in the Appellate Division on October 20, the first day of the Supreme Court’s new session.

‘Appointment of Supreme Court judges is made by the president, and any related proceedings are initiated through the President’s Office,’ Aziz explained.

He assured that the chief justice had acted within his authority in the matter and expressed confidence that the attorney general would advance the case on October 20.

The registrar general’s announcement was met with approval by protesting students, who agreed to end their demonstrations. Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of the movement, said, ‘Our demand for the removal of judges who attempted to influence the judiciary in favour of the now ousted Awami League government has been acknowledged.’

The judges affected by this decision are Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Khizir Hayat, Justice SM Maniruzzaman, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Shahed Nuruddin, Justice Md Aminul Islam, and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon.

While Justice Ataur Rahman Khan and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das were excluded for administrative reasons, the remaining judges face allegations of professional misconduct.

Supreme Court sources confirmed that eleven of the judges were appointed by the Awami League government, while Ataur Rahman Khan was appointed during the BNP-led administration in 2004.

Earlier, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed held individual meetings with six of the twelve judges, inviting them for discussions over tea. Other judges were informed separately.

This is not the first time judges have been sidelined.

On August 10, then chief justice Obaidul  Hassan, five more judges of the Appellate Division—Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique, Justice Jahangir Hossain, Justice Md Shahinur Islam, and Justice Kashefa Hussain—were forced to resign following student demonstrations. All the six judges were appointed during the Awami League regime.

The action comes in the wake of the student-led mass uprising that ousted the Awami League regime, leading then prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India on August 5, and the formation of the current interim government led by chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.

Three High Court judges—Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque—have still been out of court for over five years since 2019, pending unresolved inquiries into allegations of misconduct.

They, however, continue to receive salaries and other benefits in full.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, pressing for their three-point demand, took position in front of the Supreme Court premises and blocked the Supreme Court Annex Bhaban from about 12:15pm to 4:15pm.

Their demands are removal of Awami League-backed judges, removal of Awami League affiliated lawyers, and the banning of Bangladesh Chhatra League for its alleged involvement in extremist activities.

‘Our second demand is removing all Awami League-panel lawyers across the country. Third demand is banning Bangladesh Chhatra league for their involvement in extremist activities,’ said Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, adding that, Awami League lost its relevance for doing politics.

After closing the programme at the Supreme Court, the students brought out a procession that ended near Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus at about 4:37pm.

Protesting students vowed not to leave the place until their demand was met.

Earlier in the morning, students from various private universities held a rally in front of the Annex Bhaban, while lawyers brought out a procession pressing the same demand.

While talking to reporters on the court premises, another anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Umama Fatema said that Awami League had lost its rights to continue politics as they killed students and people.

Asked why they demanded removal of the Awami League panel lawyers, Umama said that they would be allowed to continue their practice in the court after erasing their fascist Awami League tags.

‘We will resist all conspiracies that will bring back the fascist Hasina regime,’ she added.

Police and army personnel were present during the programme but no untoward situations arose.

New Age