The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A group of dissident lawyers of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) protested its unanimous resolution on boycott of the Appellate Division on Thursday as a mark of disapproval against the apex court's recent rulings in the unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR) cases.

A presidential candidate for the recent SCBA election, Khondker Mahbub Hossain, termed the SCBA programme politically motivated and against public interest while addressing a press conference Tuesday in the Bar-annex hallroom.

"Such court-boycott activity will tarnish the image of the judiciary," he said, adding that the SCBA stand is an attempt to destroy the independence of the judiciary.

The dissidents appeared two days after the SCBA resolution was passed, demonstrating divisions in the bar over the issue.

An emergency general meeting of the SCBA on Sunday unanimously decided to boycott the court of the Appellate Division on May 15 for two hours, beginning at 9 am, in a silent protest against its recent rulings that they think resulted in 'degradation of dignity of the highest judiciary and the rule of law'.

The recent rulings by the apex court stripped the High Court of jurisdiction to grant bail to any convicted appellant tried under the EPR.

It also struck down a High Court ruling empowering itself with jurisdiction to dispose of bail petitions in criminal cases being tried under the EPR.

And it finally ruled that any case of an offence committed before the promulgation of the state of emergency can be tried under the EPR, clearing the way for case proceedings against high-profile corruption suspects like politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen booked under the ongoing purge in the interim period.

When asked whether their stand against the SCBA decision was the exercise of taking any favour from the interim government, Khondker Mahbub, flanked by ABM Nurul Islam and Abdul Mannan, replied in the negative. "No, no," they shouted and left the place by closing abruptly the press conference.

Meanwhile, SCBA president Barrister Shafique Ahmed, sharply reacting to the remarks by its dissident members, termed the allegations totally false and baseless. He said they are being set to create confusion among the lawyers. "A vested powerful quarter has planted them with an ill motive in a bid to fulfil their agenda," he observed.

"If we find any member by his activity infringe the SCBA constitution, disciplinary action will be taken," the Bar leader warned.