Dhaka: The Law Minister Sunday said the two embroiled newly appointed additional judges of the High Court--Ruhul Kuddus Babu and Khashruzzaman--would take their oath soon as allegations against them were “not true”.

“Their oath will be administered soon as allegations against them, as per investigation report, could not be proved,” Barrister Shafiq Ahmed told reporters at the secretariat.

Earlier, Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim administered oath to 15 out of 17 newly appointed judges on April 18. He ceased from swearing in the two, as the opposition BNP-dominated Supreme Court Bar Association body raised objection and staged a raucous protest.         

The Chief Justice, however, had approved all the 17 to be appointed by the President.

After the new appointments were made public, the Supreme Court Bar Association accused advocate Ruhul Quddus and advocate M Khasruzzaman of being a murderer and a vandal of the Supreme Court respectively.

Asked whether any more lawyers will be recruited for war-crime probe to get past the setback, the Law minister replied that it depends on the demand of tribunal prosecutor.

“It will take more time to submit the charge sheet for war criminals’ trial,” the minister, however, added.

The problem arose with the recent resignation of the chief investigator amid a row over his political past, as a government big shot said he was associated with those in the Pakistan times who are now the main suspects for the war-crime trial.
 
1646 hrs, 16 April 2010
MRH/SMS/MUA