Judges who delivered dictated verdicts must face trial: ATM Azhar at Sabuj Panel Intro event

MM Rahmatullah: Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council-backed Ainjibi Oikya Parishad’s ‘Sabuj Panel’ held its introductory meeting on Tuesday (April 21) ahead of the upcoming Dhaka Bar Association election, pledging to restore “justice and fairness” in the judiciary.Speaking as chief guest at a convention hall on Johnson Road, Dhaka, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council ATM Azharul Islam, MP, said, “Those who tarnished the judiciary by delivering dictated verdicts at the government’s behest must be brought to justice.”“We want change, and that change must begin with the legal arena,” he told the gathering. “The people do not want judges like Khairul Haque anymore. The nation does not want to see the successors of those who sat on the bench showing loyalty to another country and disgracing the justice system through government-ordered rulings.” He added that citizens want to see on the bench only those judges who recognize an independent, sovereign Bangladesh, love its people, and are accountable to them. “Lawyers have an immense role in establishing justice. To my knowledge, the Sabuj Panel is committed to ensuring justice and equity. If its members are elected to lead the bar, people will get fair trials,” Azharul noted.The meeting was presided over by Advocate Abdur Rashid, president of Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council’s Dhaka Judge Court unit, and conducted by Advocate Abdur Razzak, central joint secretary of the council and member secretary of the Sabuj Panel’s election steering committee. Other speakers included Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council Secretary General Advocate Motiur Rahman Akanda, Advisers Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, MP, Atiqur Rahman, Barrister Nazrul Islam and Abdur Rahman, National Lawyers’ Alliance Adviser Sarjis Alam, Chief Organizer Advocate Shakil Ahmed, and advocates Saifur Rahman, M Yusuf Ali, Shamsuzzaman, Md. Rokon Reza Sheikh, Shah Mahfuzul Haque, Mujahidul Islam, and Jaksu VP Md. Riazul Islam, among others.Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council Central President Advocate Md. Jasim Uddin Sarker introduced the Sabuj Panel candidates. Advocate S.M. Kamal Uddin is contesting for president, Md. Shahidul Islam for senior vice-president, Md. Lutfur Rahman Azad for vice-president, Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique for secretary, and Md. Azmat Hossain for treasurer.The other office-bearer nominees are Md. Shahin Akhtar (senior assistant general secretary), Md. Mehedi Hasan Bhuiyan (assistant general secretary), Md. Shahadat Hossain (library secretary), Bilkis Akter (cultural affairs secretary), Abdur Razzak Mondol (office secretary), Babul Akhtar Babu (sports secretary), Mohammad Shahjahan Molla (social welfare secretary), and Mostafizur Rahman (information & communication secretary).Member candidates are Dilruba Akter Subarna, Belal Hossain, Jahirul Islam, Kawsar Ahmed, Md. Kaiyum Hossain (Nayon), Md. Mohsin, Md. Omar Faruk, Md. Shah Alam, Md. Yunus and Mosharraf Hossain.The program ended with a call to voters to elect the Sabuj Panel to ensure “an accountable bar and a judiciary free from influence.”