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Joint Declaration yet to be materialised: Ishtiaq

By Staff Correspondent
The basic characteristics of country's 1972 Constitution must be restored to ensure independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and the people's fundamental rights, according to eminent lawyers.
Addressing a seminar In the city Friday, the lawyers observed that the '72 Constitution had lost Ils basic structure following incorporation of certain elements of Martial Law as well as black
Organised by the Democratic Lawyers' Association of Bangladesh at the National Museum auditorium. the seminar was addressed by lawyers Syed Ishtlaq Ahmed. Debesh Chandra Bhattacharya. Shamsul Haq Choudhury. Mainul Hosein. A K Badrul Huq and journalist Reazuddin Ahmed.
Association President Shafiq Ahmed was in the chair. Mohammad Mohsen Rashid presented the key-note paper of the . seminar titled ‘Independence of Judiciary and Role of Press in Democracy" on behalf of the organisers
Speaking on the occasion Syed Ishtlaq Ahmed said that the autocratic rulers destroyed alt the three elements of
democracy: independence of judiciary , freedom of press and sovereignly of the parliament.
The hard-earned democracy cannot be meaningful without these elements, he observed.
In . this regard. Ishtlaq Ahmed criticised the government for not yet materialising fully the Joint declaration of three major political alliances. The present government should fulfil Ils commitments made in the Joint declaration to consolidate democracy, he said.
Calling upon tfjc Journalists to be objective in reporting. Ishtlaq said the press can play the role of interpreter between the government and the people tn a democratic society.
Despite the existing freedom of the press, he said some undue actions like central distribution of advertisements were still hindering the development of an absolute free press.
Speaking on Independence of Judiciary. Ishtlaq called upon the government to pass the Private Members' Bill tn the parliament seeking separation of the judiciary from the lexecutlvc organs. Otherwise, the Judiciary would not be freed from the influence of the administration, he pointed out
Shamsul Haq Choudhuty In his address said that the Constitution of 1972 was pushed backward through repeated amendments to It. "fhe present character of the Constitution docs not reflect the supremacy of the people", he added.
The 12th Amendment to the Constitution ought to be aimed al freeing the Constitution from all undemocratic characteristics, he opined.
Referring to the Independence of Judiciary. Clioudhury said it was needed not to subserve the interest of the jurists but for the sake of Justice to people.
Debesh Bhattacharya said that the "72 Constitution had lost three out of four basic slate principles. According to him. the people's representatives in the parliament should lake steps for restoration of the basic characteristics of the Constitution and rid it of 'distortion' to consolidate democracy.
Mainul Hoseln said that democracy was incomplete without free press and independent judiciary.