When news of the appointment of Sarjis Alam's father-in-law as a High Court judge broke on Monday, the controversy to follow was expected.
The government in a notification announced the 25 new judges to the High Court division of the Supreme Court, including Lutfor Rahman, currently serving as a deputy attorney general, and also the father-in-law of National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam.
Amid questions on the appropriateness of such an appointment, journalist Zulkarnain Saer posted on his verified Facebook profile on Monday saying, "Lutfor Rahman is the father-in-law of a top leader of a new political party."
He also pointed out how the one making the appointments had also appointed himself.
Sarjis then went and commented on the post, defending his father-in-law's appointment.
He said Lutfor Rahman was enrolled in the Dhaka University's law department during the 1991-92 academic session, securing first place in the law faculty admission test and ranking 19th in the university's B unit based on his SSC and HSC scores.
He further mentioned that Rahman began practising at the Supreme Court in 2006, and is currently working in both the High Court and Appellate Division.
"He was serving as deputy attorney general even before any family relationship existed between us. More than a hundred of his juniors are in courts across the country.
"He fulfilled all eligibility requirements set by the newly formed Supreme Judicial Appointment Council and was selected after a rigorous vetting process. Attempting to undermine his achievements by linking those to me reflects a narrow-minded attitude, and disregards his qualifications and hard-earned reputation," he added.
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