At least 12 judges of the High Court Division have been sent on leave amid the protest of lawyers and students demanding the removal of judges affiliated with the Awami League, who 'toe the party line.'
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed took the decision amid protests by lawyers and several hundred students under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement besieged the HC premises seeking removal of "pro-Awami League fascist judges" on Wednesday.
Later, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed in a meeting personally informed the six judges of the decision of not conducting judicial activities when the court reopens on October 20.
Earlier, the Chief Justice, invited 12 judges for having a cup of tea in his office. Among these judges, six entered the Chief Justice's office before noon while the other six did not attend.
Those who met the Chief Justice were Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Khondkar Diliruzzaman, Justice Md Akteruzzaman, Justice Shahed Md Nuruddin, Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon and Justice Md Aminul Islam. The Chief Justice informed them that they would be sent on leave and barred from conducting judicial activities.
While six other judges did not attend the meeting, sources confirmed that they would also be sent on leave, regardless of their presence. These six judges are Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice Ataur Rahman Khan, and Justice Khizir Hayat, sources said.
"Twelve [HC] judges will not be allocated benches for now, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in judicial activities when the court reopens on October 20," Supreme Court Registrar General Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan told media in front of the Supreme Court annex building.
He made the announcement in front of the protesting students on the SC premises. Later, the agitating students postponed the movement till Sunday.
The Chief Justice asked the 12 High Court judges to see him after allegations surfaced that they acted as accomplices of the former Awami League-led government. The meeting, organised at the Chief Justice's request, altered the day's previous agenda.
Various organisations have long demanded the removal of judges perceived to have political bias, particularly those appointed during the Awami League's tenure.
Tensions escalated earlier Wednesday when hundreds of students from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered outside the High Court, demanding the resignation of what they called 'fascist' judges linked to the Awami League.
By 12:30pm, the protest soared, with demonstrators chanting and creating a charged atmosphere. The protest march started at Dhaka University's Raju Sculpture and culminated at the High Court premises.
The student protesters issued a 2:00pm ultimatum, demanding the resignation of the 'politically affiliated and corrupt' judges. In a related development, a group of BNP-backed lawyers held a separate rally at the Supreme Court, also calling for the resignation of the accused judges.
Advocates Mahbubur Rahman, Ayesha Akhtar, SM Nure Ershad Siddiki and several other lawyers joined the protests under the banner 'Lawyers Against Discrimination and Genocide'. The protesting lawyers marched along the Supreme Court courtyard as well.
All justices appointed after 2009 must resign or they have to be sacked, said BNP lawyer Siddiki.
Meanwhile, during the protest rally at the Supreme Court premises coordinator Hasnat Abdullah entered into the inner garden of the Supreme Court for photo session.
Supreme Court lawyer Shah Md Babor barred him from entering into the inner garden of the Supreme Court saying, "You cannot come to this place. Don't give address here."
A scuffle broke out between them at one stage of the argument. After noticing the brawl some lawyers came to calm down the situation and finally Supreme Court Registrar General settled the matter by calling the lawyers and students to his office.
Later, the Supreme Court Register General declared that 12 judges of the High Court Division would not be allocated benches and they would not be allowed to conduct judicial activities when the court reopens on October 20.
