Bangladesh News

Former chief justice KM Hasan remained in an apparent seclusion out of public eyes over the last few days.

After his meeting with US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis on October 22, Justice Hasan, who is likely to take oath as the chief adviser to the caretaker government today, did not attend the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, Juma prayers or meet any friend, well wisher or civil society member who went to his residence.

Although leaders of different organisations went to meet him to convey their concerns over the existing political situation, he did not meet them.

Different socio-cultural and professional organisations called upon KM Hasan not to take over the office of the chief adviser to the caretaker government to avoid chaos across the country.

Leaders of some organisations also urged the president to initiate a proactive move to find a constitutional solution to the deadlock over appointment of the chief adviser to the caretaker government.

Leaders of Peshajibi Samannay Parishad and Sammilito Nagorik Andolon yesterday went to the house of former chief justice KM Hasan to submit a memorandum urging him not assume the post of the chief adviser to the caretaker government.

The leaders sent in requests to KM Hasan to receive the memorandum but he did not come out and the police did not allow them to enter the house. The leaders of the organisations sat on the street in front of the gate of the house prompting one of the relatives of KM Hasan to come out and receive the memorandum.

The memorandum stated that for the sake of greater interest of the nation and to keep the country chaos and violence free KM Hasan should not to assume the office of the chief adviser.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday called upon the president to initiate a proactive move to find a constitutional solution to the deadlock.

After the expiry of the BNP-led four-party alliance government’s tenure, the president can perform his constitutional duties like appointing the prime minister and the chief justice on his own.

“So, in the case of appointing the chief adviser to the interim government, there is no scope for the president to act in accordance with the will or advice of the outgoing government,” SCBA President Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam told a news conference in the bar hall.

The SCBA looked to the head of state for a remedy as the four-party regime ended its term last night leaving the standoff between the government and the opposition unsolved.

Referring to Article 48(3) of the constitution, Barrister Amir said the president should exercise his executive authority on advice of the prime minister but appointing the chief adviser is a constitutional function not an executive one.

In a written statement, the SCBA leader expressed his disappointment over the statement made by BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan breaking off the dialogue between the two major political parties at the eleventh hour.

“Mannan Bhuiyan has disappointed the entire nation by keeping the dialogue hanging through procrastination, which is very unfortunate,” he told journalists.

Echoing the observations made by the SCBA president, constitutional experts Dr Kamal Hossain and Dr M Zahir said now is the time for the president to discharge his constitutional responsibilities on the basis of a national consensus, reflecting the will of the people, to save the nation from any impeding disaster.

Among others, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, Abdul Baset Majumder, Ozair Farooq, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Shahara Khatun, Abdul Mannan Khan, and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah were present.

South Asian People’s Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism in a different statement called upon the president to take active measures so the administrative power is handed over to a caretaker government headed by a ‘real neutral person’.

Professor Kabir Chowdhury, Binod Bihari Chowhdury, Justice KM Sobhan, Advocate Gaziul Haq, Kalim Sharafi, Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutt, Professor BK Jahangir, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, Journalist Kamal Lohani, writer Hasan Azizul Haq and many others signed the statement.

Leaders of Sammilito Nagorik Andolon yesterday submitted a memorandum to the president that urged him to appoint an honest, neutral person as the chief adviser instead of KM Hasan.

Dr Qazi Faruque Ahmed of Proshika, Principal Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Shahriar Kabir, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Professor Ajay Roy, Abu Osman Chowhdury, Ramendu Majumder, Professor Muntasir Mamun and some others were present at Banga Bhaban while submitting the memorandum.

Nari Sangram Committee also submitted a memorandum to President Iajuddin urging him not to appoint KM Hasan as the chief adviser to the caretaker government.