The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A general meeting of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) yesterday urged the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency for holding the general elections first.

The meeting, at the SCBA auditorium with association president Barrister Shafique Ahmed in the chair, demanded immediate withdrawal of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2008 and the Government Attorney Services Ordinance 2008.

The SCBA considered promulgation of the two ordinances beyond the jurisdiction of the caretaker government and as anti-Constitutional acts.

The SCBA meeting urged the Chief Justice to refrain from what it said unwarranted acts like dissolving any High Court bench as in the past.

It called for the restoration of the Supreme Court's image by fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people and by upholding the Constitution.

The meeting urged the government to reinstate the 10 Additional Judges as regular judges of the High Court in compliance with the High Court verdict. The judges, who had completed two-year probationary period, were not confirmed by the previous 4-party alliance government.

The SCBA meeting demanded repeal of the Prevention of the Terrorism Act, 2008.

The meeting was conducted by SCBA secretary M Nurul Islam Sujan and addressed, among others, by Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Ruhul Quddus Kajol, Abdul Mannan Khan, Enayetur Rahim, Joynul Abedin, Rafiqul Islam Mia and Mahbubey Alam.