SC Bar Association president seeks rapid judicial reforms

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon today (5 September) emphasised quick reform in country's judiciary, demanding dismissal of judges who had conducted politically-motivated trials.

"The judiciary was under total control of past Awami League government for 16 years, denying the people getting justice. Sheikh Hasina government was in power, using the judiciary for their advantage. Many judges conducted politically motivated trials, gave indulgence to lawyer syndicate. This particular type of judges should be dismissed," he said.

Khokon, a senior jurist, called for publishing the phone records of former law minister Anisul Huq, saying he used to influence judges by calling them on phone. He also urged to identify the exact number of people killed in the recent mass-uprising of student and people and publish it.

The SCBA president made the demands at a press briefing held at Shaheed Shafiur Rahman Auditorium at the Supreme Court.

"The present interim government has not taken any step regarding the appointment of new judges at the High Court. It has not formulated any policy in this regard yet. They have to take steps quickly. They must appoint meritorious, honest and efficient candidates as judges," he further said.

Terming the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has become a political organization and it failed to perform its due duty in the last 16 years, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon said and asked ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan to resign as he (Khan) opposed the process to allow BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to take treatment abroad.