Diatribes against CJ continue

AG terms ministers' comments unconstitutional; SCBA, BNP for action against two ministers

For a second day in a row, Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque blasted Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha yesterday.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam termed their comments unconstitutional and unprecedented, and urged all to refrain from making any hostile comment about the CJ.

Qamrul, also a joint general secretary of Awami League, once again alleged that the chief justice was openly speaking in language used by BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and their lobbyists in their efforts to undermine the war crimes trial.  

The food minister was speaking at a meeting organised by Dhaka city Awami League at its office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital yesterday.

The comments come at a time when the Supreme Court is scheduled to give its verdict in the war crimes case against Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali. 

Qamrul alleged Quasem spent crores of taka to make the tribunal and the trial process questionable, and appointed international lobbyists to obstruct the trial.

Quasem may be in the condemned cell, but his money is spinning outside and he is hatching conspiracy, the minister alleged. “We will remain in the street on March 8 like we had been during other verdicts.”

'NOT RIGHT AT ALL'

Mozammel Haque, the Liberation War minister, went further, saying the chief justice should not be delivering the verdict in Quasem's case at all.

“You [the CJ] are the top judge of the country. You consider it yourself if it will be reasonable for you to deliver the verdict after making such comments. In my view, it will not be right at all,” a private television quoted Mozammel as telling a discussion of Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote yesterday.

On Saturday, Qamrul demanded that the appeal in Quasem's case be reheard by a reconstituted Appellate Division bench, keeping the chief justice out of it. He added that the CJ in an open court made some observations that raised questions about the prosecutors and investigators' role in the trial.

Speaking at the same discussion, the Liberation War minister had said if the CJ had indeed made such comments, as a judge and responsible citizen, he must as well know the remedy.

THE CJ'S COMMENTS

On February 24, a five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the CJ completed hearing on Quasem's appeal and fixed March 8 for its verdict.

During hearing of the appeal on February 23, the chief justice expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of the prosecutors and investigators in dealing with the war crimes cases.

The top judge of the country observed that a huge amount of money was being spent on the prosecutors and investigators, but they did not handle and investigate the cases properly.

Justice Sinha had also told the attorney general that the judges were shocked to note that the prosecutors appeared before the media to make statements immediately after a session of the case proceedings at the tribunal

'UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNEXPECTED'

In his reaction, the attorney general said the two ministers' comments were unconstitutional and uncalled for, and urged all not to make any undesirable comment about the chief justice to keep the judiciary above controversy.

The CJ is the head of the judiciary and if he is made controversial, the entire judiciary will be affected, the AG told reporters at his office when asked to comment on the two ministers' remarks.

He requested all to wait for the apex court's verdict in Quasem's case on Tuesday.

Later in the day, the top state lawyer told the BBC Bangla, “Such comments by the ministers have damaged the judiciary and such remarks against the judiciary are unprecedented.” 

'THREAT TO JUDICIARY'

The Supreme Court Bar Association called on the apex court to take legal actions against two ministers for their comments immediately. 

The ministers' comments on a sub-judice matter are a threat to the judiciary, SCBA President Khandker Mahbub Hossain told a press conference at the association auditorium.

He hoped the SC would act in this regard in order to uphold the image of the judiciary.

Replying to a query, Mahbub said the Appellate Division may initiate contempt of court proceedings against the two ministers.

SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon demanded removal of the two ministers, saying the ministers broke their oaths by violating the constitution through making those comments.

The BNP, meanwhile, termed “extremely audacious and political hooliganism” the ministers' comments.

“The way Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque asked the chief justice to quit is a naked interference in the judiciary. Their comments have once again proved that the one-party Baksal system of 1975 has been revived with its all aggressive features,” said BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Talking to reporters at the party's central office, he said the comments by Qumrul and Mozammel were tantamount to contempt of court.

According to the BNP leader, the ruling AL is restoring to threats and intimidations having failed to establish a full control over the judiciary.

Son all too lonely as mother also departs

Except Zarif, first from right, everyone in this family, burnt in a fire at their home in the capital's Uttara on February 26, is now dead. The mother, Sumaiya Khanam, succumbed to her injuries at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday, ending a 10-day battle for her life. The two other brothers died on the day of the incident and the father the next day. Photo: Collected

With 90 percent of her body burnt, Sumaiya Khanam had been fighting a grim battle for life for 10 days.

Her painful groans, coupled with her cries of loss of her two little children and husband in a devastating fire, would fill the air inside the hospital she was admitted to.

Between the cries and groans, Sumaiya would bemoan how her neighbours declined to help them when all her family members were on fire.

However, all her complaints and sufferings came to an end yesterday.

Sumaiya's brain stopped working around 11:45am and she was put on artificial life support. But she breathed her last at 3:15pm, said doctors at City Hospital Ltd where she was transferred from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday.

She was aged around 40.

On February 26, a fire engulfed her apartment at Uttara Sector-5 in the capital when her husband Mohammad Shahnawaz, 50, lit the gas stove around 6:30am to make tea.

India win Asia Cup for the 6th time

ASIA CUP, FINAL

Indian batsmen in action during Asia Cup 2016 in Bangladesh. File Photo: STAR

Star Online Report

India thumped Tigers by eight wickets to claim their sixth Asia Cup during the rain-effected final under the lights at Mirpur stadium tonight.

India’s successful chase was set up by their 2nd wicket partnership of 94 runs. MS Dhoni came out after the fall of Shikhar Dhawan and took his team home with 20 runs off just six balls.

Bangladesh v India

India: 122/2 (13.5/15 over, target 121)

Bangladesh: 120/5 (15/15 over)

Dhawan was the highest scorer for India with 60 runs. Kohli was unbeaten at the end with 41 off 28 balls with five fours in his knock.

For Bangladesh, the fielding lapses late in India’s chase gave away vital runs and made it relatively easy for India to romp home with seven balls left in the bag.

Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain picked up a wicket each while Nasir Hossain chipped in with his offies, and kept things tight from one end.

Bangladesh finally managed to break India’s second wicket partnership when Taskin Ahmed came back in the 13th over to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan.

Dhawan was instrumental in the stand with Kohli that generated 94 runs in 11.1 overs. The Indian opener struck 60 from 44 balls with nine fours and a huge six to his name.

India still favourites to win even after the loss of Dhawan against the run of play.

Indian batters Kohli and Dhawan kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay with sensible batting under pressure.

The unbeaten second wicket partnership between the Indian batsmen produced 62 runs in 7.1 overs, and took the match away from the hosts.

India were rocked early in their chase of 121 when Bangladesh new ball bowler Al-Amin Hossain dismissed the in-form Rohit Sharma for a single run.

Rohit stayed in his crease, flashed away from his body and got an edge to Soumya at slip in the 2nd over.

Earlier, Bangladesh reached 120 for five after 15 overs thanks to a timely cameo from Mahmudullah late in the innings in conjunction with the unbroken sixth wicket stand of 45 against India during the final of Asia Cup 2016 at Mirpur.

Mahmudullah smashed 33 from 13 balls with two fours and two towering sixes. He was ably supported by Sabbir Rahman. Sabbir was undefeated on 32, which he made from 29 balls with two hits across the fence.

A disciplined bowling effort from India saw four bowlers pick up a wicket each.

India dominated proceedings after the 12th over, as Bangladesh lost two crucial wickets in two balls.

Mashrafe Mortaza lasted only one ball as he tried to pull a flat delivery from Jadeja and found the fielder at deep mid-wicket.

Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for four runs in the third ball of the 12th over bowled by Jadeja. Mushy tried to reach the crease with a dive but the throw from the deep was too good.

Shakib Al Hasan fell in the first ball of the ninth over bowled by Ashwin. The wicket came against the run of play when Shakib top-edged a slog sweep to Bumrah at short fine-leg.

Bangladesh allrounder scored 21 runs from 16 balls with three hits to the fence.

The third-wicket stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman removed the early jitters, and managed to up the tempo with some exciting batting. The stand produced 34 runs.

India new ball bowler Bumrah gave his team the second breakthrough in the fifth over, and managed to dismiss the dangerous Tamim for only 13 runs.

Tamim planted his front foot forward right across the stumps, swung across the line, missed the ball and was given out by the umpire.

India calling the shots early…

Bangladesh lost their first wicket after a strong start when Nehra got the better of Soumya in the fourth over of the match.

Soumya tried to slog a shortish ball off the front foot, but mis-timed his shot badly to lob a catch to Pandya at mid-off. Soumya scored 14 from nine balls with three fours.

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Soumya came out to bat with a purpose, and gave their team a strong start.

India skipper MS Dhoni opted to field first after the coin fell in his favour before the 15-over final of Asia Cup 2016 against Bangladesh under the lights.

Neither side thinks this will be an uneven contest. Though India beat Bangladesh soundly in the tournament opener, they are aware of what their opponents are capable at home, especially after a series loss in June 2015.

Bangladesh are aware of their own strength, and there is an unmistakable confidence in their approach in T20Is these days. A win in the final would therefore be a watershed moment in this format for them.

India have been flawless in the tournament so far. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made the best of every opportunity in crunch moments, while Yuvraj Singh is slowly coming into his own.

Rohit steered India after a sluggish start against Bangladesh; Kohli weathered the Mohammad Amir storm against Pakistan, while Yuvraj was in his elements against Sri Lanka.

All this has meant MS Dhoni has faced all of nine balls in the tournament, while Suresh Raina hasn't had a major impact with the bat.

The story with the ball isn't too different. Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra have done the damage at the top, while Hardik Pandya has played the role of a third seamer to his captain's liking.

The spinners - R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - have done what they usually do, even though some of the surfaces they have played on haven't aided turn.

That Bangladesh find themselves in this position has been largely due to the effect their bowlers have had. Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain have stepped up, while Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza have given fine supporting acts in their last three wins.

The battle could get more interesting if the hosts decide to play Abu Hider, the BPL bowling hero, and off-spinning allrounder Nasir Hossain in place of Arafat Sunny and Mohammad Mithun.

Bangladesh Squad

Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim 9Wicketkeeper), Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed

India Squad

MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, S Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, RA Jadeja, V Kohli, B Kumar, P Negi, A Nehra, HH Pandya, PA Patel (Wicketkeeper), AM Rahane, SK Raina, RG Sharma and Yuvraj Singh