Hope winks in the abyss of despair

Chief Justice Mohammad Ruhul Amin: SC to rescue nation from any crisis

The Daily Star
Vol. 5 Num 1139
Sun. August 12, 2007

Front Page
SC to rescue nation from any crisisCJ says freedom of judge's mind a must for independent judiciary; political divide in judiciary deploredStaff CorrespondentThe Supreme Court judges will weigh in for sure to rescue the nation from any crisis, asserted Chief Justice Mohammad Ruhul Amin yesterday.
"I want to assure the nation that we will come forward. The Supreme Court played a role in the past at the critical juncture of the nation. It is doing so at present and will do so in future to pull the nation out of mire," the chief justice responded to concerns expressed at a seminar over prevailing crisis including call for reforms in judiciary.
But he said judges couldn't be compelled to work independently by enacting laws. "It has to be in their culture. If a judge is not committed to work freely, law cannot make him/her independent," Ruhul Amin told a seminar-- Judicial Reform and Independence of Judiciary-- attended by a host of judicial heavyweights including a former chief justice, leading jurists and judges.

RESPONSE

The Daily Star

Vol. 5 Num 1140
Mon. August 13, 2007

My Lord, we beg to differ

But we share CJ's vision for a better higher judiciary

Mahfuz Anam

Chief Justice (CJ) of Bangladesh Mohammad Ruhul Amin said in a speech on Saturday, "The Supreme Court played a role in the past at critical junctures of the nation. It is doing so at the present and will also do so in the future to pull the nation out of mire." We most humbly beg to differ. Yes, there are many grand examples of the Supreme Court serving the nation in times of crises. However, there are just as many examples of when it did not. May we suggest with all due respect your high office demands and deserves, that if the Supreme Court had played such a role in the recent past then we would not be where we are today. Why after 15 years of democracy, however flawed, we needed an emergency to bring about the reforms that the nation needs so badly, which regrettably are becoming increasingly doubtful? Detail......