DHAKA, Nov 04, 2018 (BSS) – Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq today said BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was sentenced in court and the court itself will take decision on her release from jail.
The minister said these while replying to a question of newsmen on the release of the BNP chief.
Anisul was addressing the inaugural function of the third orientation course for Chief Judicial Magistrates and Chief Metropolitan Magistrates at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) here in the capital.
While replying to another question on whether the declaration of election schedule will be deferred as demanded by Jatiya Oikyafront, Anisul Huq said the Election Commission will consider the matter.
“I believe the Election Commission will take decision as per constitution. The Prime Minister will decide whether to keep any leaders of Jatiya Oikyafront in election-time government,” he said.
The minister said none had the courage to talk about getting justice, and ensuring freedom of judiciary was a far cry for 21 years since the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We have reached the current stage after passing different hurdles. Before 2007, a magistrate had to work with the executive as well the judiciary. As a result the justice seekers had to suffer in getting justice. So after separating the judiciary, judicial magistrates are only being used for judicial purposes,” he added.
Anisul Huq further said the salary and the allowances of the judges have been doubled to ensure that they can work independently.
“The judges are being sent abroad for training for the first time during the tenure of the present government. They are also getting modern training at JATI,” he said.
Presided over by JATI Director General Justice Khandaker Musa Khaled, the inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Law and Justice Division Secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque.