The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Demanding postponement of the implementation of Separation of Judiciary from the Executive from November 1, leaders of the Administrative Cadre Service yesterday at a seminar said the separation should not be done before 2021 for the best interest of the nation.

Addressing the seminar titled 'Separation of the Judiciary for Good Governance', organised by Bangladesh Institute of Administrative Management (BIAM) in the city, anti-adulteration drive-famed Magistrate Rokonuddowla threatened to cripple the civil administration from upazila to the Secretariat if the Government goes ahead with the implementation of the separation plan as scheduled.

Magistrate Rokonuddowla in his fiery speech demanded immediate halt to the separation process, which, he claimed would create anarchy in the country.

He said all administrative cadre officers are aggrieved and shocked at the move for the Separation of the Judiciary, as it would strip them of judicial powers.

"An anarchic situation has been created in the name of separating judiciary. This move must be scrapped," he said, adding the separation should not take place before 2021.

Rokonuddowla warned that after the lifting of the state of emergency, members of the Administration Cadre Service would assemble in the capital and lay siege to the Supreme Court.

He also demanded the scrapping of Contempt of Court Law so that the people and the media could expose corrupt judges.

He urged journalists to move to his court in case any contempt proceedings were brought against them in connection with reporting news and assured them of quashing the charges. Magistrate Rokonuddowla's remarks were, however, not well received by many of his colleagues present at the seminar, the government or legal practitioners.

Meanwhile, sources close to the Government said it would take tough action in case of any disobedience of public servants under the sate of emergency.

Lawyers have threatened to go for legal action against the Government officials, who would try to foil the much-awaited separation of judicairy from the Executive.

Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) Rector Abu M

Moniruzzaman Khan was the chief guest at the seminar, chaired by Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Ikram Ahmed.

Former Adviser of Caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Dr. MA Momen, Farhad Mazhar and Abul Mobarak also spoke at the seminar, where the keynote paper was presented by Dr Abul Hossain, Project Director, Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.

Delivering his speech as chief guest Abu Mohammad Moniruzzaman Khan welcomed the decision for the Separation of Judiciary from the Executive, saying, "We should look at the matter positively."

He said, "Good governance is a continuous process. None of us can tell what will happen after November 1. We will have to wait and see. We must remove misunderstanding."

Moniruzzaman Khan, who is the President of the Administration Cadre Service Association, also disagreed with those, who called for a non-cooperation with the government.

The Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA) has said the separation of judiciary is being implemented in accordance with the constitutional mandate and the Supreme Court directives fulfilling the long cherished aspirations of the people.

At an impromptu press briefing, BJSA vice-president and Supreme Court

Registrar Iktidar Ahmed said the administrative cadre officers, who were engaged in judicial function, have been given the option to choose whether or not they would continue with the judicial job.

He said the judicial officers, on deputation to different Government organisations, have been asked to return to the judicial service within three months.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Barrister M Amirul Islam sharply reacted to the position taken by the administrative cadre officers on the question of the separation of judiciary.

He said Rokonuddowla's remarks "are not only contemptuous of court, but also tantamount to violation of the Constitution."

In a joint statement, Bangladesh Ain Samity president M Shahjahan and general secretary Saifur Rashid Sabuj have welcomed the decision to separate the judiciary effective November 1 as the people would reap its benefits.

Legal action should be taken against those opposing the separation of the judiciary, they observed.