SC cautions Fakhrul over comment on judiciary

The Supreme Court yesterday cautioned BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his comment on the judiciary.

The judiciary is an organ of the state, not of the government, an apex court bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said while dealing with three bail petitions of the BNP leader.

Everybody should remain cautious while making any comments on the judiciary so that it is not undermined or its dignity not damaged, the SC observed.

The warning came after the court accepted Fakhrul's explanation regarding his recent comment on the judiciary.

The chief justice urged all including the ministers and politicians not to make such comments that can damage the public faith on the judiciary.

Chief Justice SK Sinha told Fakhrul's lawyer Zainul Abedin that everybody must abide by the judiciary if they want to follow the constitution.

Fakhrul on February 7 told a public meeting in Sylhet that the government was trying to control the judiciary.

On February 18, the SC asked Fakhrul to explain his comment.

In his explanation, Fakhrul said he did not make the comment to undermine the judiciary, his lawyer Sagir Hossain told The Daily Star.

The apex court has meanwhile extended Fakhrul's bail for 15 days in three cases filed in connection with arson and vandalism.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the CJ passed the order after disposing of three petitions filed by Fakhrul seeking extension of his bail in the cases.

The High Court on November 24 last year granted bail to Fakhrul for three months in connection with the cases.