Attorney General AM Amin Uddin on Tuesday said that Justice Md Emdadul Haque Azad had broken his oath by making an “unfortunate” comment about a deputy attorney general during the bail hearing in a case.
"I was not in that court then. I heard about it later. The issue appeared in the online editions of newspapers. When the deputy attorney general concerned was asked about the matter, he confirmed it. I am deeply shocked, burdened and saddened to hear that a judge can make such a comment,” the attorney general told Bangla Tribune.
“It is very unfortunate that a judge who is sworn to uphold the Constitution has said such an unconstitutional thing. I think he has broken his oath by this.''
He further said that after knowing the matter, he talked with the authorities. “Later I met the Chief Justice and gave him a copy of the news. ‘You have turned the country into a hell’ – a judge can never say such words to a common man. He (the judge) certainly does not do politics.”
Amin Uddin said: “Let me say one more thing: there is a conspiracy with the judiciary of the country. I do not know what different class groups are saying as part of the conspiracy. It has to be looked into whether he (the judge) said this to benefit them (conspirators) through his words.”
Asked about the fact that the judge was set to retire just after five days, the attorney general said: "I do not know when he is going to retire. But it should be known who is benefiting from this statement.”
The High Court judge made the comment pointing at Deputy Attorney General Md Rezaul Karim during the hearing for the bail of Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director ASM Nasir Uddin Elan earlier in the day.
Senior lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali and Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan stood for the petitioners.
When the deputy attorney general told the court that they also had a say, the High Court said: "Let the lawyers of the defendants speak first. Why are you jumping up now?”
When Deputy Attorney General Rezaul Karim opposed the bail again, the court expressed anger and said: “Then why did you give them a sentence of two years? Couldn't you give them a life sentence?”
At one stage, the judge said: "You’ve made the country a hell."
Later, the High Court ordered that the appeals against the sentence be heard, suspended their fines and granted them bail.
