Senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain said today that the National Consensus Commission, formed under the interim government, cannot be regarded as part of a democratic process.
“This was a selective process. A few people sat together and made decisions. Where was democracy in that? What election was held? Who was invited? Who from outside had a chance to speak? No one,” she said.Sara Hossain made the remarks at a discussion, titled “Judicial Independence and Reform: Constitutional Obligations, Court Directives and Public Expectations”, held at Dhaka’s National Press Club. Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a civil society platform that advocates good governance, organised the event, which was moderated by its secretary, Badiul Alam Majumdar.
Barrister Sara also noted that the Consensus Commission did not include a single woman. Likewise, no female lawyers or judges were appointed to the Judicial Reform Commission. She further said the public had no clear understanding of the third question in the referendum. Addressing participants at the roundtable, she said, “Raise your hands and tell me: how many of you can say what the 30 proposals were? … I don’t think you even know what you voted for.”
