PM Hasina, Justice Sinha greet each other at Ganabhaban

Published: September 02, 2017 20:26:12 | Updated: October 24, 2017 07:26:29

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha met for the first time on Saturday after the Supreme Court had scrapped the 16th Amendment to Constitution, reports bdnews24.com. In keeping with tradition, the prime minister hosted an Eid-day reception for diplomats, politicians, bureaucrats and eminent citizens at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM Hasina and Justice Sinha were seen exchanging greetings with each other for the first time since Aug 1, when the amendment restoring parliament's powers to sack top court judges was annulled. Chief Justice Sinha’s observation on Bangladesh's politics, past dictatorships, Election Commission, corruption, governance and judiciary in the verdict angered some stalwarts of the ruling Awami League. Hasina herself came down hard on Justice Sinha dismissing the observations as 'irrelevant and contradictory'. Earlier, Justice Sinha went to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Aug 15 to attend a state programme on National Mourning Day, but left the venue just after laying a wreath. On Saturday, Justice Sinha arrived at the Ganabhaban shortly after 11:00 am, when PM Hasina was seen greeting diplomats. As Sinha proceeded to the designated place for VVIPs, Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana also headed there. The two spoke for about five minutes. After exchanging pleasantries with diplomats and other top court judges, Hasina greeted Justice Sinha before taking her designated seat next to him. Hasina then spoke to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, seated on her right. Then came cricketer Shakib Al Hasan to greet Hasina. Towards the end of the programme, Hasina left her seat and others also rose as a customary gesture. PM Hasina and Justice Sinha then started a conversation. Both were seen smiling. Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain of Appellate Division was standing next to Justice Sinha. The Prime Minister then posed for a photograph with the top court judges, including the chief justice.