Hasina slams judiciary for wasting time on ‘petty’ cases

The Bangladesh prime minister has criticised the judiciary for ‘wasting’ its time with ‘petty’ matters keeping aside major cases.“There’re tens of thousands of cases pending with courts in the country. Even a writ is filed with the court regarding the examination (PSC) of children. Courts also pass time with it, though there’re many emergency cases like the arrest of terrorists and JMB men ... there’s also hearing of capital punishment remains pending ... there’s no time for those. Why is the court passing time with these petty matters,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.The prime minister was speaking in parliament over a question of legitimacy for holding examinations like PSC and JSC raised by Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoz Rashid. Rashid said such examinations go against the constitution of the country and these are illegal.The prime minister said there are some people in the country whose only job is to file writ petitions with the court and discuss the matter.She said that it would be a matter of great regret if the court passed the judgment to stop these examinations. “I don’t know what judgment the court will deliver. If the court gives verdict to stop the study of students it’ll be nothing but a matter of great regret.”Regarding the introduction of PSC and JSC examinations, the prime minister said she herself did that. “I’ve done it considering the wellbeing of children.”Hasina said before introducing these examinations the school authorities used to sort out some students from a class to appear for scholarship examinations and arranged coaching for those selected students only. “With the introduction of the PSC and JSC examinations, school authorities are now paying attention to all students.” Briefly describing various steps of the government for the upgradation of the country’s education system, she said the government has already introduced PM’s Education Assistance Trust Fund for higher education. “With this fund, the government provides stipend to even PhD students.”Hasina feared that one day someone will lodge a writ petition with the court why this stipend is being given. “You cannot predict anything.”Talking about coaching, she said this is not related with the PSC and JSC examinations. “Coaching is a different issue,” she said.Earlier, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the PSC and JSC examinations are not illegal at all. These are held in line with the National Education Policy 2010 which was approved by parliament.