report in Dhaka Tribune, Aug 31,2023
Criticizing the open letters, both domestic and international, addressed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop the court proceedings against Dr Yunus, the 14-party alliance led by the ruling Awami League on Wednesday termed these attempts as a threat to the rule of law in the nation.
In a statement, signed by Awami League Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das on behalf of the alliance, the leaders said that Bangladesh is a sovereign country with an independent judiciary where all judicial proceedings are conducted in accordance with existing laws.
Hence, any attempt to obstruct such proceedings goes against the sacred constitution and rule of law, they said.
They emphasized that Dr Muhammad Yunus has the constitutional right to seek legal counsel if he believes he has been wronged directly. However, any demand from foreign or domestic entities to halt the judicial process of an ongoing case is not just an intrusion on the judiciary, but also an affront to the sovereignty of an independent nation.
The 14-party alliance further said that winning a Nobel Prize does not place anyone above the law.
In various countries, Nobel laureates have faced legal action in accordance with the laws of those nations, and due judicial processes have been conducted, they said.
In their statement, the leaders further mentioned: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has established the rule of law in this country, replacing a culture of lawlessness, with an independent judiciary.”
“The current government is committed to ensuring the public’s right to justice. Therefore, we urge everyone to refrain from any statements or inclinations that obstruct or influence Bangladesh’s sovereignty, constitution, legal system, and judicial processes,” they added. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/324012/14-party-alliance-open-letters-to-pm-hasina-on-dr
