The High Court today appointed three amici curiae for their expert opinions on the legality of formation of a parliamentary probe body to investigate corruption allegations against former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar. The amici curiae are barrister Rafique-Ul Huq, advocate Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan and Dr M Zahir.

The HC bench of Justice Tariq-ul Hakim and Justice Borhan Uddin made the appointments during the hearing on a writ petition by Sircar. The court said it might appoint two more amici curiae for their opinions in this regard. The hearing will be held next week, said the court. Earlier on August 17, Sircar filed the writ petition with the HC challenging the formation of the parliamentary probe body.

The BNP leader in his petition also prayed to the court to stay the proceedings and recommendations made by the probe body against him. The recommendations include cancellation of the House membership of Sircar and legal actions against him on graft charges. Sircar in his petition stated that the parliamentary probe body was not formed following the due process of the law, as no member of the House proposed forming such committee.

The speaker has illegally approved the formation of this committee, which has no right to investigate allegations against him, the petition said. Speaker Abdul Hamid, probe body chief Fazle Rabbi Mia and 13 others were made respondents to the petition. The parliamentary probe body was formed on March 19 this year to conduct an enquiry into the alleged corruption at the parliament secretariat over the last seven years till Abdul Hamid assumed the office as speaker.

The committee on July 5 this year recommended that the House should cancel the membership of Jamiruddin and charge him with contempt of parliament for not appearing before the parliamentary committee. The committee also recommended that the House ask him to refund the medical expenses of Tk 27.86 lakh and cancel appointments of third and fourth-class employees during his tenure.

-Daily Star