National Lawyers Alliance protests show-cause notices to lower court judges, repeal of key ordinances
The NLA also called for the immediate establishment of a separate secretariat for the Supreme Court in line with the High Court verdict.
The National Lawyers' Alliance (NLA), a platform affiliated with the National Citizen Party (NCP), has protested against the decision to issue show-cause notices to 28 lower court judges over Facebook posts on judicial independence.
At a press conference held at the Supreme Court today (8 April), they further protested against the move to repeal the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025, Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance, 2025, and the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025.
During the briefing, the organisation's convener, Advocate Azmal Hossain said, "Issuing show-cause notices to judicial officers through executive measures, based on a circular formulated during a fascist regime, is illegal under the Judicial Service (Discipline) Rules, and violates Article 39 of the Constitution."
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"We view such actions as a tactic by the executive branch to intimidate the judiciary," he added.
He further demanded that judicial independence be ensured immediately, the show-cause notices against judges be withdrawn, and what he described as blatant interference in the judiciary be stopped.
Azmal also called for the immediate establishment of a separate secretariat for the Supreme Court in line with the High Court verdict.
He said the NLA expresses deep concern and strong protest over the government's preliminary decision to repeal three important ordinances.
If the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025, seen as a safeguard for judicial independence, is repealed, the judiciary will once again fall under executive control, which would contradict the verdict in the Ministry of Finance v Masdar Hossain case, Azmal said.
The NLA convener added that as a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, repealing the ordinance would not only violate international commitments but also deprive victims' families of justice and create opportunities for impunity.
He further warned that halting efforts to strengthen the Human Rights Commission would reduce the body to a "toothless tiger."
