Attorney General and Chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council, Md Asaduzzaman, commented that if for any reason distrust towards the judiciary is created, then that judge will be convicted for contempt of court.
He made this remark as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by the Noakhali District Lawyers’ Association on Saturday at noon. The meeting was presided over by the President of the Noakhali District Lawyers’ Association, Advocate Md Tajul Islam, and conducted by General Secretary Advocate Md Amir Hossain Bulbul.
He said, “If such an impression is created among people regarding your judicial process that they will not get justice in court, that the court endorses human oppression. If such behaviour by a judge creates distrust among people towards the judiciary, then that judge will be convicted for contempt of court.”
He further stated, “Contempt proceedings are initiated against lawyers, but why not against judges? On the day the Honorable Chief Justice of today’s Bangladesh assumed his position, I said, ‘Honorable Chief Justice, please tell your judges that none of my lawyers should be disrespected by any judge.’ I said, ‘Nearly 80,000 lawyers in Bangladesh, are officers of your court. Please ensure that no presiding officer or judge mistreats any lawyer.’ At the same time, I said, ‘Honorable Chief Justice, please remember that you are also not above contempt of court.'”
The attorney general said, “I gave an example: the disgraceful judges of this country, Khairul Haque, Syed Mahmud Hossain, the disgraceful judge Manik – the distrust towards the entire judicial system of Bangladesh that they created among people, the kind of judicial system they presented to us in the name of the spirit of the Liberation War – I said let the conviction for contempt of court begin from here. Therefore, I want to assure you that those of us who are working will remain vigilant against corruption and act as unwavering guardians for lawyers – this is our commitment.”
Present at the time were BNP Chairperson’s Advisor and President of the Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon; BNP National Executive Committee (Chittagong Division) Co-Organising Secretary, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin; Jamaat-e-Islami Central Majlis-e-Shura member and Noakhali District Amir Ishaq Khandakar, among others, who also spoke.
Lawyers, politicians, and people from various professions were present at the time.
