The book titled 'Bichar O Rajniti' (Justice and Politics) by journalist Waliullah Noman was launched at the ceremony, organised by the Mouli Prokashoni at the National Press Club in the city.

Speaking as the chief guest, Moudud said, "It was a good suggestion made by Opposition Leader Shiekh Hasina in 1996 that the most recent retired chief justice would be made the chief advisor of the caretaker government and we accepted that suggestion with due respect."

But now why they do not want to take part in the next election under the caretaker government headed by a former chief justice, he said, adding that "Is there any person in the country who is more neutral than the chief justice?"

The law minister also said that a very bad culture has been established in the country that the parties who fail to secure majority seats in national elections are reluctant to join parliament.

There is no alternative to a free and fair election, he said, adding that it is a matter of regret that those who lost the elections are now raising question about the fairness of the election.

Referring to the main opposition Awami League's statement that the incidents of bomb blasts will stop if the four-party alliance government resigns, the law minister said the people have got a clear message from it that the opposition is behind the bomb attack.

About the book, Moudud said author Waliullah Noman has presented a clear picture of the judiciary and politics in his well-documented book.

The next generation will be benefited much from this book, he added.

Dr M Jahir, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, said this book is very significant for the present and future generations as the author has carefully collected individual thoughts and put it in this book.

He also said, "It is a positive sign for our democracy that there are now two mainstream political alliances in the country -- one is ruling four-party coalition and the other is 14-party alliance."

He urged the law minister to enact a law so that one representative from the opposition 14-party alliance and one from the ruling four-party coalition can be present during the preparation of new voter list in order to ensure transparency in the process.

State Minister for Housing Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of the National Press Club Shawkat Mahmud, President of Dhaka Journalists Union Elahi Newaz Khan Saju, Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister AKM Mohiuddin Khan Mohon and Director of Mouli Prokashani SK Masum also spoke at the ceremony presided over by poet Abdul Hai Shikdar.