The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hearing on writ challenging Supreme Judicial Commission Ordinance today

UNB, Dhaka

The hearing on a writ challenging the legality of the Supreme Judicial Commission Ordinance 2008, which provides for constitution of the recruitment body for the higher judiciary, takes place at a three-member larger bench of the High Court today.

Justice MA Rashid heads the three-member larger bench for hearing the case. The two other members are Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice M Ashfaqul Islam, court sources said.

Rights activist advocate Idrisur Rahman, who filed the writ petition in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL), told UNB yesterday that the larger bench was constituted by the Chief Justice as the matter involves constitutional interpretations.

Earlier, the larger bench in its sitting on July 1 appointed a seven-member panel of amicus curiae in aid of the court during hearing on the writ. They are Barrister Shafique Ahmed, TH Khan, Dr Kamal Hossain, Khondaker Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, Mahmudul Islam and Ajmalul Hossain,QC.

On April 28, the High Court, responding to the PIL writ petition, issued a rule on the government and the SC registrar to explain why the impugned ordinance 'should not be declared unconstitutional'.

President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated the Ordinance in March as part of government measures to do away with room for politicization in the appointment of judges to both the High Court and the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court.

The interim government took the initiative in view of a strong public demand as all the successive governments in the past had allegedly appointed judges to the apex court 'on political considerations' sans academic qualifications, professional skills, honesty and reputation.

The ordinance prescribes the formation of a nine-member commission headed by the chief justice which will recommend names for appointment as additional judges to the High court.

The commission will also recommend names of eligible candidates drawn from the HC Division for appointment as a judge of the Appellate Division.

According to the petition a number of provisions in the ordinance run counter to the independence of the judiciary since those allow the President to reject names recommended by the commission and give the executive 'complete control' over selection of the prospective judges.

Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam along with Dr Shahdeen Malik appears for the petitioner in the hearings commencing tomorrow.

2 boys wounded in Dinajpur bomb explosion

UNB, Dinajpur

Two bombs abandoned in graveyard were exploded leaving two boys wounded at Hamjapur village in sadar upazila late yesterday afternoon.

Momin (10) and Razaul (19) badly wounded in the explosion were admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.

Locals said a group of boys were playing football that rolled into the graveyard. While collecting the ball Momin and Razaul stepped into the abandoned bombs resulting in the blasts.

Later, police found a live bomb in the graveyard.

Rainfall damages 40 pc city roads

Chittagong Correspondent

Nearly 40 percent of the roads in this port city are now dotted with potholes, cracks and other damages due to seasonal shower and stagnant water.

The pitiable condition of these roads has made the movement of transports fraught with many hazards and has been adding to the sufferings of the commuters.

According to Chittagong City Corporation sources, the road network in the port city extends upto 800 kilometers, 300 kilometers of which cover lane and by lanes.

Nearly 141 kilometers of the total road network were either reconstructed or repaired during the last fiscal with the fund provided by the Asian Development Bank. sources added.

ACC sues ex-Jamaat MP Nazrul Islam

UNB, Satkhira

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a graft case against former Jamaat MP Gazi Nazrul Islam for concealing his wealth worth over Tk 18.81 lakh in his statement submitted earlier under the current drive against corruption.

Deputy Director of the ACC Khulna office Monjur Morshed filed the case with Shyamnagar police station on Thursday.

According to the case statement, the Jamaat leader, while submitting his wealth statement following a notice from the ACC, had concealed his wealth worth Tk 18,81,447.

Nazrul Islam was on the list of corruption suspects published by the ACC after the declaration of state of emergency in January last year amid a political crisis over election issues.

Nazrul was sent to jail after his surrender to army troops. Later, he was released on bail.

Ershad asks partymen to take all-out preparations for elections

UNB, Rajshahi

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday asked his party activists to take all-out preparations to participate in all elections.

"By winning the elections, we would like to prove that JP is a big party," Ershad told a meeting of JP city and district units at Zilla Parishad auditorium yesterday.

Ershad, also a former president, said those once tortured him and his party activists are now in jail. "The JP has been able to survive because it worked for the welfare of the people."

The JP Chairman said his party would make Rajshahi a provincial capital if his party is elected to power.

JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader, acting chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, city president Durul Huda, among others, addressed the meeting, chaired by city unit vice president Faiyam Uddin.

Ershad, who came here on a two-day visit Friday, left for capital Dhaka yesterday.

BNP unity move: Hafiz urges Delwar to sit for talks

UNB, Dhaka

Reformist BNP leader Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday urged secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain to immediately sit for unity talks formally or informally to remove misunderstanding within the party.

"We do the same party. We've some misunderstanding amongst us. A single sitting formally or informally could put an end to all the misunderstanding. Any hurdles on the way to unity will be removed," he told media personnel at his Banani house.

Hafiz however cautioned that the immediate-past ruling party, already troubled by wrangling, would have to get into a difficult situation if the party could not be united. "Disunity at this critical time will not be good for anybody," he said.

In reply to a question about the alleged government-Awami League camaraderie, he said despite the reported entente, a united BNP would win the elections. "BNP is a popular party and a united BNP is able to frustrate any conspiracy."

Hafiz thought that the 4-party alliance should make more contacts with the people and take part in the local-body elections.

He said BNP would have been more strengthened at grassroots level if the party had joined the local elections.

Hafiz noted that common people are deeply involved in local elections. Representatives of the local government give services to the people. "We thought BNP would take part in these elections and give reply to our opponents," he said.