BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday (July 3) said that both the higher and lower courts must be made free from fascist influence for the judiciary to function independently and fairly.

He was talking to journlaists after the second phase, ninth day of dialogue between political parties and the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

Salahuddin said, “If fascists remain in the courts, they will continue to benefit regardless of how independent we try to make the judiciary. Our clear demand is to free both higher and lower courts from fascists.”

He said that internal measures like transfers and departmental actions are not enough. 

“Merely losing a job is not justice. Those involved in crimes must be legally tried. Only then can we establish true judicial independence,” Salahuddin added.

The BNP leader alleged that people from all sectors — political activists, journalists and professionals — were unjustly punished by what he called ‘fascists’ in the judiciary. 

He said, “We must not protect such individuals. We want a judiciary that is not infiltrated by fascist collaborators.”

He further alleged that ruling party members are regularly granted bail from courts across the country, including the High Court. “Those facilitating this are the very people we are speaking of — collaborators of fascism,” he said.

Salahuddin warned that as long as the judicial system operates under such influence, even the strictest laws will be abused. “They are misusing the law right now,” he added.

He also said that during the meeting with the Commission, BNP agreed in principle to establish High Court benches in divisional regions to ensure decentralization of judicial power. Additionally, they discussed revising the constitutional provision that allows the President to grant clemency to convicted individuals.

MSK/