Govt aims to root out corruption in judiciary: Law Minister

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman on Friday said the government wants to uproot all forms of corruption from the judiciary to ensure a fair and accountable justice system.

He made these remarks while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of a newly constructed building of the Jashore District Bar Association and a views-exchange meeting held on the occasion.

The minister said that while discussions are ongoing about judicial independence, the government does not want a system tainted by corruption. “We want to eliminate all roots of corruption in the judiciary,” he said.

Referring to ongoing debates over legal and constitutional issues, he said various laws, including those related to the July Charter, the Human Rights Commission, judicial independence and a separate judicial secretariat, would be thoroughly reviewed before being placed in parliament as bills.

Responding to criticism regarding the July Charter, the minister said it lacks constitutional and legal basis as such an order cannot be issued by the president after 1973. However, he added that BNP upholds the spirit of July Charter.

The meeting, chaired by Bar Association President Syed Saberul Haque Sabur, was also addressed by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit and BNP Vice-Chairperson Prof Nargis Begum.

Earlier, the minister visited former BNP minister Tariqul Islam’s grave and later inspected the old district judge court.

AM