Bangladesh Opposition Calls Countrywide Strike For Monday

Ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led opposition alliance has called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk strike for Monday to protest the latest constitutional amendment empowering parliament members to impeach apex court judges.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its 19 allies have strongly criticized the Bangladesh Awami League government's move to re-empower parliament to impeach the Supreme Court judges, describing it as a conspiracy.
Acting Secretary General of the BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Saturday evening announced the strike program at a press briefing.
The Bangladesh parliament Wednesday unanimously passed the constitutional amendment to regain its power to impeach apex court judges.
The bill was passed late Wednesday night by both voice and division votes when both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Raushon Ershad were present.
Parliament members will be able to impeach any judge for his or her misconduct or incapacity once the bill comes into effect.
The Bangladeshi cabinet last month gave its nod to the proposal to amend the country's constitution to empower parliament members to impeach apex court judges.
In Bangladesh's 1972 Constitution, Article 96 allowed parliament to impeach Supreme Court judges for proven offenses or incapability by the vote of a two-thirds majority.
Late President Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP, later canceled it and bestowed the power to a Supreme Judicial Council through the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
According to the existing constitutional provision, the Supreme Judicial Council comprising the chief justice and two other senior most judges of the Appellate Division investigates allegations of misconduct against any judge and makes necessary recommendations to the president.
The president then takes steps according to the suggestions. (Cihan/Xinhua)