CCTV cameras to be installed in CJ’s courtroom

Appellate Division judges on Monday decided to install CCTV cameras in chief justice’s courtroom before hearing of the bail application of former prime minister and BNP chairman Khaleda Zia scheduled for Thursday.

On Monday afternoon, law minister Anisul Huq told New Age that the Supreme Court was compelled to the decision to protect the sanctity of the court in the wake of Thursday’s protests by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers at the chief justice’s courtroom. ‘The sanctity of the two divisions of  the Supreme Court can’t be protected without installing CCTV cameras,’ said Anis when his reaction was sought over the decision.

He said that the Supreme Court did not take the decision willingly, it had had no other option.

The decision is ‘appropriate and timely’, said attorney general Mahbubey Alam.

He said that Khaleda’s lawyers demonstrated in the courtroom of the then HC judge Muhammad Imman Ali, later elevated to the Appellate Division while hearing Khaleda’s writ petition challenging the legality of evicting her from her Shaheed Mainul Road home in Dhaka Cantonment.

Khaleda’s lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon expressed satisfaction over the decision to install CCTV cameras in the Supreme Court’s courtrooms.

He rejected attorney general’s allegation that Thursday’s demonstrations were held by hiring lawyers.

On the contrary, he alleged  that the attorney general had created chaos in the courtroom by inviting Juba League activists as well as deputy attorneys general and assistant attorneys general  who were not enrolled as Appellate Division lawyers to influence the court over Khaleda’s bail application hearing.

He said that the attorney general and vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University wilfully committed contempt of the court by not submitting Khaleda’s latest health report at last Thursday’s  hearing.

He called it as ‘unfortunate for the nation that the attorney general is performing as BSMMU’s legal adviser.

He said that Khaleda’s lawyers chanted slogan in the courtroom saying ‘We want justice and Freedom of Khaleda Zia when the government the BSMMU and the attorney general were blocking justice to Khaleda Zia.

On Monday noon, Khaleda’s lawyers formed a human chain at SC Bar Association compound, holding placards with the inscriptions, ‘Look Back to 2006: To see Awami lawyers terrorist activities inside the Supreme Court on November 30, 2006.’

They said that at that time AL lawyers vandalized the CJ’s courtroom and set the jeep of then state minister for law Shahjahan Omar on fire on the SC compound on November 30, 2006.

But BNP lawyers held peaceful protest in the court on Thursday, they said.

Khaleda’s lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain said that the attorney general did not submit the health report at the hearing of the Appellate Division on Thursday with malafide motives to delay the hearing though the BSMMU Vice-chancellor had sent it to him.

‘The government is now hatching new conspiracy over Khaleda Zia’s health report,’ said her chief defence counsel Zainul Abedin.

Lawyer AKM Fazlur Rahman Khan criticised AL general secretary Obaidul Quader for making the remark that Khaleda’s lawyers committed unpardonable crimes by holding sit in demonstration in the courtroom. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net