'Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Bill, 2022' was passed in parliament Monday with a provision of a monthly special allowance of Taka 70,000 for a retired judge.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq moved the bill in the House which was unanimously passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
While placing the bill, the law minister said, "Although the former Martial law government led by Hussain Muhammad Ershad had enacted an ordinance, but didn't enact a law. The present democratic government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken initiative to make it an act."
The special allowance will be given to the retired judges to cover up expenses against different purposes like paying his domestic help, car diver, house guard and maintenance of office cum residence, according to the bill.
'The law was brought to formulate a law repealing an ordinance of the military regime as per a judgment of the high court,' it added.
The law will replace the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Ordinance, 1982.
The new act will provide huge facilities to the judges, said opposition lawmaker Begum Raushan Ara Mannan of Women seat-47 while participating in the discussion on seeking peoples' review on the bill.
Other Jatiya Party lawmakers Fakhrul Imam of Mymensingh-8, Pir Fazlur Rahman of Sunamganj-4 and Gano Forum lawmaker Mokabbir Khan of Sylhet-2 also participated in the discussion.
The existing law also is an ordinance of 1985. Since it was promulgated during the military regime, the new law had to be brought as per the judgment of the High Court. 'Few small changes were made in the ordinance,' said the minister.
