Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Bangladesh court ends MPs' power to sack judges

Bangladesh's Supreme Court has scrapped parliament's power to sack top judges, in a landmark verdict that lawyers said Wednesday (2) bolstered the independence of the country's judiciary.

The country's top court restored a military rule-era provision which allows only a Supreme Judicial Council, led by the chief justice, to remove judges found to have breached the judicial code of conduct.


The full ruling released Tuesday (1) was quickly hailed by lawyers as a crucial safeguard for the freedom of the Muslim-majority nation's secular judiciary.

"The judgement declares the 16th amendment of the constitution as null and void. It means the highest court scraps the parliament's power to remove top judges," senior lawyer Syed Ahsanul Karim said.

Karim said that because of the "landmark" judgement, the executive "will have no dominant role over the judiciary".

Karim said if the amendment had been left in place, it would have made top judges "subservient" to the government as they would have been under constant threat of removal.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina brought the constitutional change allowing parliament - controlled by her ruling Awami League party - to remove top judges in September 2014.

In May last year, the High Court declared the amendment illegitimate after a lawyer filed a public interest challenge.

The Supreme Court led by chief justice S.K. Sinha gave a provisional verdict last month ruling against the government.

"The 16th amendment has raised doubts about the independence of the judiciary and the court boldly struck down that amendment," said Shahdeen Malik, senior lawyer and law professor.

"This indicates the assertiveness of the court to preserve and protect its independence," he said.

The Supreme Court has increased pressure on the government to frame a code of conduct for lower court judges, who experts say are heavily influenced by the government.

Experts say a formal code would curb the government's power to use lower courts to prosecute opposition leaders and activists on trumped-up charges.

The law ministry has drafted rules, but the top court has rejected them.

Since coming to power in 2009, Hasina's government has detained and charged tens of thousands of opposition supporters.

Khaleda Zia, former prime minister and leader of the opposition, faces at least 30 charges.

Bangladesh was under military rule from 1975 to 1990.

More For You

Nepal protests

Demonstrators gather at the entrance of the parliament during a protest against corruption and government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal September 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Protests erupt in Nepal over social media shutdown, corruption allegations

Highlights:

  • Thousands of young Nepalis march in Kathmandu against social media ban and corruption
  • Government blocks 26 unregistered platforms, citing fake news and fraud concerns
  • Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse protesters
  • Critics accuse government of authoritarianism and failure to deliver on promises

THOUSANDS of young Nepalis marched in Kathmandu on Monday demanding that the government lift its ban on social media platforms and address corruption.

Keep ReadingShow less
English Channel

People try to board a migrant dinghy into the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France. (Photo: Getty Images)

Government plans to use military sites for migrant housing

THE UK government said on Sunday it is examining the use of military sites to house migrants, amid growing criticism over the practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.

"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats," defence secretary John Healey told Sky News.

Keep ReadingShow less
​London Underground

London Underground services will not resume before 8am on Friday September 12. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tube strike begins as RMT stages five-day walkout over pay

Highlights:

  • First London Underground strike since March 2023 begins
  • RMT members stage five-day walkout after pay talks collapse
  • Union demands 32-hour week; TfL offers 3.4 per cent rise
  • Elizabeth line and Overground to run but face heavy demand

THE FIRST London Underground strike since March 2023 has begun, with a five-day walkout over pay and conditions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indian restaurant loses licence after Home Office catches illegal workers

Mumbai Local has been stripped of its licence by Harrow council. (Photo: LDRS/Google Maps)

Indian restaurant loses licence after Home Office catches illegal workers

AN INDIAN restaurant in north London has lost its licence after it was found to have repeatedly employed illegal workers.

Harrow council determined that the evidence suggested that using illegal workers was a “systemic approach” to running the premises and it had a “lack of trust” in the business to comply with the law.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump sees Modi, Putin closer to Xi, but insists US-India ties intact

FILE PHOTO: US president Donald Trump meets with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Trump sees Modi, Putin closer to Xi, but insists US-India ties intact

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said India and Russia seem to have been "lost" to China after their leaders met with Chinese president Xi Jinping this week, expressing his annoyance at New Delhi and Moscow as Beijing pushes a new world order.

"Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Trump wrote in a social media post accompanying a photo of the three leaders together at Xi's summit in China.

Keep ReadingShow less