BANGLADESH

Dhaka, Sept 11 (bdnews24.com)—Pro-BNP lawyers' platform Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum has not come up with any evidence to substantiate its claim that former chief justice A B M Khairul Haque had delivered a key verdict for money.

But it has demanded that Haque return the money to the prime minister's relief fund and that he be brought to book.

At a press conference on Sunday, president of the lawyers' body Rafiqul Islam Mia also demanded an investigation committee headed by a former chief justice to determine if Khairul Haque, who was the fourth important person in the country as per the warrant of precedence, can be called a 'poor and destitute person' and whether his taking money was ethical.

The former top judge had taken Tk 1.16 million in two phases – before he become the chief justice on Sept 30 last year – to finance his wife's medical treatment.

Rafiqul said Khairul had taken money when he delivered verdicts in crucial cases. "It proves that he delivered the verdicts in exchange for money. Khaleda Zia also meant this."

On Thursday, general secretary of the organisation, Mahbubuddin Khokan said he would present proof on Sunday to back the claims of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, who on Aug 31 said that justice Khairul Haque gave the caretaker abolition verdict in exchange for money.

He was not present at the new call with the 'proof'.

Khairul Haque, as chief justice, headed the seven-strong Appellate Bench that ruled that the non-party provision ran contrary to the principles of democracy. But the bench recommended holding of next two elections under the caretakers.

As the immediate past chief justice he would have headed the 90-day interim, unelected caretaker cabinet if the Awami League government had gone ahead with the apex court recommendations.

The issue came to a head when attorney general Mahbubey Alam asked Khaleda to apologise to the nation and a parliamentary watchdog threatened legal action against her if she did not withdraw her remarks.

The law minister on Saturday said the comment from Khaleda was "not only contemptuous but also maligned the image of the judiciary".

On the other hand, BNP-controlled Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Khandker Mahbub Hossain the same day said judges taking money from the prime minister's relief fund was 'rare'.

Giving his take on the recent debate, Mahbub said, "The remarks by the opposition leader were political, she herself will clarify it."

BNP policymaker Nazrul Islam Khan earlier in the day terming his party chief's remark 'political rhetoric', said that the matter should not be taken to court.

When pointed out that Khairul Haque was not a chief justice when he had taken the money, the forum leaders could not give a clear answer.

They also placed a list of former judges who were given 'financial assistance' from the government funds.

The parliamentary standing committee on Sept 6 was also given a list having names of 31 judges, 27 of whom had taken money from the prime minister's welfare fund and four others from the relief fund.