On Thursday 9 January Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) organised the first instalment of ‘Transition Justice Talks’ at the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium, Dhaka.
Last year witnessed an array of major judicial decisions shaping the jurisprudence and legal discourse in Bangladesh. Indeed, throughout the year, the High Court Division (HCD) and the Appellate Division (AD) of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (SCB) handed down several significant judgments, of immense constitutional importance, among others.
In digital age, personal data fuels the online ecosystem while also raising privacy concerns. To address this issue, Bangladesh aims to strengthen its data privacy framework by adopting the draft Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (PDPA).
Food adulteration slowly damages people’s health in ways that are not immediately visible, but have serious long-term effects.
While the international community has made tremendous progress in moving away from the death penalty, Bangladesh continues to use it for a wide range of offenses, including many that do not result in the loss of life.
The Human Organ Transplantation Act 1999 has been enacted in Bangladesh to prevent commercial organ trade.
Article 102(1) of the Constitution enables the High Court Division (HCD) to give directions or orders as may be ‘appropriate’ for the enforcement of any fundamental rights. Thus, the Article permits the petitioner and the HCD to choose any suitable remedy, including compensation, for the enforcement of fundamental rights, as it does not specify the sort of redress.
The common scenario concerning road accidents is that there are usually three types of people other than victims and wrongdoers, namely, reluctant spectators, stealers, and voluntary rescuers.
The concept of ‘euthanasia’ or intentionally ending a person’s life to relieve suffering, is not new. The term was first coined by Francis Bacon, referring to a situation where a doctor helps a patient to end their life.
During the July-August mass uprising in Bangladesh, there were widespread concerns among citizens that phone calls and internet activities were under government surveillance, sparking fears of potential detention by the law enforcement based on information so acquired. While spyware refers to malicious software designed to gather information about a person or organisation and send it to another party, often violating the user’s privacy, lawful interception involves the authorised, legally approved monitoring of telecommunication services by the government agencies. It is crucial to review the current legal framework for lawful interception in Bangladesh and emphasise the urgent need for judicial oversight to ensure compliance with these standards.
Recognising education as a human right is crucial for both individual and societal development. The right to education is a universally recognised right, enshrined in various international human rights documents, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
While walking along the footpaths of Dhaka, one of the most persistent problems we face is exposure to cigarette smoke. The pervasive smell and clouds of cigarette smoke create an unpleasant experience for non-smokers. Indeed, due to exposure to cigarette smoke, passive smokers tend to be at significant risk of developing respiratory problems, heart disease, and even cancer.
The clarion call for change is blowing in the wind of Bangladesh, carrying with it the potential and promise of a brighter future. To usher in this change wholeheartedly, we must acknowledge our past mistakes and work towards rectifying them. In particular, time is ripe for us to revisit the laws that potentially have a negative impact on human rights.
