CJ asked to form larger bench to hear Jamaat reg writ
[While it is necessary and imperative that the War Criminals or "Razakars" are brought to Justice, at the same time, in a civilized world there is no place for Capital Punishment or Death Sentence, which in other words mean, "State Sponsored Murder". Bangladesh is in a transition phase and I firmly believe that it would move towards a mature democracy, in the coming days. Hence, hence my appeal to the ruling party is to abolish this method of punishment in Bangladesh and replace it with other stricter sections of jurisprudence, like we have in many European Countries. We Bengalees have our own Culture and Traditions and we need NOT have to follow Arabs in every matter---sooner our Jamaat-e-Islami, brothers understand this simple truth, better it will be for Bangladesh and for the whole mankind. Therefore, please stop violence and come to the discussion table, to find out a solution to this crisis. Murdering, innocent people, in the name of faith, does not make any sense, in today's world]
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| The Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
A writ petition challenging the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party was sent to the Chief Justice on Sunday with a request for constitution of a larger bench for hearing.
A High Court bench comprising Justice M Muazzam Hossain and Justice Quazi Rezaul Hoque referred the petition, which was filed four years ago, to the CJ saying that the matter involves constitutional and legal interpretation and should be dealt with by a larger bench.
The order came on Sunday when the petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Tania Ameer moved it for hearing.
On January 25, 2009, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging legality of Jamaat’s registration with the election commission on November 4, 2008.
A division bench of the HC headed by Justice ABM Khairul Haque had issued a rule asking the election commission and Jamaat authorities to explain why the registration of the party should not be declared illegal.
The matter came up in the hearing list last week.
Thousands of protesters led by a group of youths under the banner of “Bloggers and Online Activists Network” have been staging a sit-in at Shahbagh in the capital since International Crimes Tribunal-2 awarded life sentence to Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah on February 5.
They have been demanding capital punishment to the war criminals and a ban on Jamaat activities. The demonstration later spread across the country.
The demand for banning Jamaat has been strengthened following the violent protest of Jamaat-Shibir men after their Nayeb-e-Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee was awarded death penalty on February 28 by an International Crimes Tribunal.
The verdict against Sayedee triggered clashes, vandalism and arson across the country killing 70 people till today.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman on Saturday said if any political party tried to damage public properties resorting to militancy, it could be banned with an executive order.
Earlier on February 23, he urged the government to take steps immediately to ban Jamaat, saying it is a terrorist organisation.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on February 15 said it would be easy for the Election Commission to cancel the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami if the government bans the party.
The CEC said before taking any action, the EC needs to issue a notice to Jamaat and hear from it.
If the government bans Jamaat, the EC will not need to issue any notice to the party. Rather, it will be able to cancel Jamaat’s registration as per the Representation of the People Order.
A High Court bench comprising Justice M Muazzam Hossain and Justice Quazi Rezaul Hoque referred the petition, which was filed four years ago, to the CJ saying that the matter involves constitutional and legal interpretation and should be dealt with by a larger bench.
The order came on Sunday when the petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Tania Ameer moved it for hearing.
On January 25, 2009, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging legality of Jamaat’s registration with the election commission on November 4, 2008.
A division bench of the HC headed by Justice ABM Khairul Haque had issued a rule asking the election commission and Jamaat authorities to explain why the registration of the party should not be declared illegal.
The matter came up in the hearing list last week.
Thousands of protesters led by a group of youths under the banner of “Bloggers and Online Activists Network” have been staging a sit-in at Shahbagh in the capital since International Crimes Tribunal-2 awarded life sentence to Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah on February 5.
They have been demanding capital punishment to the war criminals and a ban on Jamaat activities. The demonstration later spread across the country.
The demand for banning Jamaat has been strengthened following the violent protest of Jamaat-Shibir men after their Nayeb-e-Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee was awarded death penalty on February 28 by an International Crimes Tribunal.
The verdict against Sayedee triggered clashes, vandalism and arson across the country killing 70 people till today.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman on Saturday said if any political party tried to damage public properties resorting to militancy, it could be banned with an executive order.
Earlier on February 23, he urged the government to take steps immediately to ban Jamaat, saying it is a terrorist organisation.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on February 15 said it would be easy for the Election Commission to cancel the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami if the government bans the party.
The CEC said before taking any action, the EC needs to issue a notice to Jamaat and hear from it.
If the government bans Jamaat, the EC will not need to issue any notice to the party. Rather, it will be able to cancel Jamaat’s registration as per the Representation of the People Order.
