He demands probe into judicial harassment
Supreme Court Bar Association president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon on Thursday demanded withdrawal of all cases against former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and urged the authorities to ensure his safe return to Bangladesh.
Speaking at a briefing on the Supreme Court premises, Mahbub accused key government figures and institutions of orchestrating Justice Sinha鈥檚 legal and political harassment following his controversial verdict in the 16th amendment case, which curtailed parliamentary powers to impeach judges.
Mahbub called for comprehensive investigations into roles of the Anti-Corruption Commission lawyers Mosharraf Hossain Kazal and Khurshid Alam Khan, and former law ministry deputy secretary Bikash Kumar Saha.
He alleged that these individuals, acting under government influence, manipulated the judicial process to secure convictions against opposition leaders, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.
Mahbub accused the government, the president, intelligence officials, and other state actors of playing key roles in Justice Sinha鈥檚 forced resignation and subsequent exile.
He claimed that Justice Sinha faced public humiliation, with law minister Anisul Huq labeling him a 鈥榗ancer鈥� and a lawyer with ties to the prime minister demanding his removal after the 16th amendment verdict.
Justice Sinha, now living in exile in Canada, left Bangladesh for Australia on October 13, 2017, after being forced to go on leave earlier that month.
He was convicted in his absence on November 9, 2021, and sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of laundering Tk 4 crore from Farmers Bank (now Padma Bank) and embezzlement.
The ACC filed the corruption case against him and 10 others on July 10, 2019. This marks the first conviction of a former Chief Justice in Bangladesh鈥檚 history.
The SCBA president also demanded justice for former district judge Motaher Hossain, who fled Bangladesh after acquitting BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case.
According to Mahbub, Judge Motaher Hossain left the country being harassed and intimidated by the ACC and police.
