Muhith’s remarks on 16th amendment verdict personal: Quader

The ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the remarks of finance minister AMA Muhith about the Supreme Court’s verdict on the 16th amendment to the Constitution is his personal opinion.

Quader, also roads highways and bridges minister, said, “We haven’t issued any statement from the party. We don’t want to say anything rashly. We have been considering the matter calmly.”

The minister was replying to reporters after signing an agreement with Japan’s Mitsubishi-Kawasaki consortium to buy engines and bogies for the Metrorail.

The senior Awami League leader also said, “There is no reason to be hot tempered here. We will let you know our reaction about the verdict in due time.”

On Friday, finance minister AMA Muhith obstinately said, “We’ll pass the amendment again in parliament and do it again and again. Let’s see what the judiciary can do.”

Earlier on 3 July, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict that declared illegal the 16th amendment to the Constitution.

The amendment empowered the parliament to remove the Supreme Court judges in cases of incapacity of misconduct.

On 1 August, the apex court published the full verdict scrapping the power of parliament to remove judges of the apex court.