Bangladesh's 20-party opposition alliance today announced a plan to launch nation-wide protests against the government's move to push through an amendment to restore Parliament's authority to impeach Supreme Court judges.
"After a meeting with the alliance parties we would hold rallies and procession tomorrow in all the districts of the country," said Nazrul Islam Khan, Standing Committee member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
A protest rally will also be held at Dhaka on Thursday.
"The government's move to empower lawmakers elected through a dubious election to impeach judges is aimed at clinging to power. The people will take a bold stance against the government's evil-doing," Khan was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.
The draft proposal had suggested that a Supreme Court judge could be impeached for gross misconduct or incapacity through impeachment in parliament if two-third of the 350 parliament members vote for his removal.
The process to restore the old provision would now require the 16th constitutional amendment in parliament, where the ruling Awami League now enjoys three-fourth majority as the main opposition BNP boycotted the January 5 polls this year.
The 1972 constitution formulated during the post independence period had given parliament the authority to remove the SC judges, but the subsequent regime of military ruler-turned politician Ziaur Rahman scrapped the provision and replaced it with the Supreme Judicial Council system.
According to the existing constitutional provision, the council, comprising the chief justice and two other senior most judges of the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, investigates allegations of misconduct against any SC judge and makes necessary recommendations to the President.
The President then takes steps as per the suggestions while he can also impeach a judge for having physical and mental incapacity to properly perform the functions of his office.
