SJC
completes inquiry
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has completed the inquiry into allegation
of corruption against an additional judge of the High Court, Justice
Shahidur Rahman. Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmood, president of the Supreme
Court Bar Association on 1 October alleged that a High Court judge had
recently taken Tk. 50000 from an accused in a woman's repression case
to help him get bail by persuading a fellow judge. Chief Justice K.M.
Hasan initiated a primary investigation into the allegations by issuing
a letter to Rokonuddin Mahmood, requesting the Supreme Court Bar Association
president to submit a written statement along with documents to substantiate
his claim. After receiving approval form Prime Minister and the President
a 3 member Supreme Judicial Council headed by Chief Justice was formed.
The Council will soon submit its findings to President. - Law Desk.
School
of Law at Brac University
BRAC University has added a School of Law which will offer
a four-year undergraduate degree in law (LL.B.). The classes for the
LL.B. programme start this semester. Dr. Shahdeen Malik is over-seeing
the process of setting up and running the law programme at BRAC University.
Law students at BRAC University School of Law, in addition to the normal
law courses and subjects, will have to take a number of social science
and humanities subjects and courses. The new School of Law will also
introduce the Socratic Method of teaching law of North America Universities.
Instead of memorising text and sections of laws, students will primarily
study case law and judgements for understanding the principles, rationale
and logic of law. Internship with law chambers, law and human rights
related NGOs, and even courts will be essential components of the undergraduate
law programme at the School of Law. With students of all other departments
of BRAC University, the law students will also spend their first semester
at BRAC's Training Centre in Savar for a residential programme to enhance
their general skills in computer, English, Bangladesh Studies and other
compulsory subjects, common for all students. The Admission Test for
the School of Law is scheduled for the 23rd January and classes begin
on the 8th February.-Law Desk.
Stringent
electronic media law planned
The government is considering a stringent legislation
to bring the electronic media, especially the satellite channels, under
a guideline in an apparent bid to control them. The information ministry
has finalised a draft of the law, Private Broadcast Media (Radio and
Television) Bill 2004. After approval of the Cabinet, the bill will
be placed in the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad session for passage. The draft
law says the channels already on air will require fresh licences under
the new law. Under the draft, the government will invite applications
from people interested in setting up radio and TV channels and a committee
will issue the licence. Broadcast of news, special programmes and advertisements
by private channels will also be controlled by the act. Violation of
some articles of the proposed law will be considered as crime. For the
first-time offence, offenders will be fined Tk 10 lakh and in default
will have to serve a three-month jail term. Each offence after the first
one will carry a fine of Tk 20 lakh and six months of jail in default.
Failures to pay any outstanding amount for a broadcast licence, transfer
of more than 50 percent shares without permission and violation of any
term will result in cancellation and suspension of licence. - Daily
Star, 11 January.
HC
asks for report on foreign prisoners
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court has asked Inspector General
of Prisons to submit a report within 3 weeks regarding the present status
of 11 foreign prisoners langushing in the jail after serving out their
term. The High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Abdul Matin and
Justice Syed Refat Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition
by a human rights organisation. The foreign prisoners are in the jail
custody over the years. It is reported that all of them have served
the sentence passed against them, but still rotting in the jail. - Observer,
12 January.
Accused
threatens cop with death
A police inspector in a murder case has been threatened
with death by the accused on the court premises. Zahid Hasan Aslam,
accused in a number of murder cases, threatened Inspector Nabi Hossain,
Investigation officer (IO) of a murder case in Rupganj of Narayangonj
with death. Russell Bhuiyan, an industrialist of Rupganj who was bullet
hit on August 26, 2002, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital the following
day. The then officer-in-charge (OC) of Rupganj Police Station Inspector
Nabi Hossain, investigated the murder and pressed charges against the
killers. Aslam, now free on bail, also threatened Public Prosecutor
in the case Advocate Nurul Iman Babul with life. - Law Desk.
Fined
for false writ
The High court Division has asked one Badruzzaman Mamun, accused
of 3 cops murder at Sathkhira, to pay 25000 Tk. for filling a frivolous
writ petition challenging the chargesheet of the case. The High Court
Division Bench of Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Tariqul Hakim
passed the order. The policemen were killed on 4 February 2002. A case
was filed in this connection without mentioning any name. After investigation
chargesheet was submitted Badruzzaman mamun and others. Challenging
the inclusion of his name in the chargesheet, he filed a writ petition
before the High Court and the High Court issued a rule nisi upon the
government to show cause on the matter and also stayed proceeding of
the case. The High Court after hearing both the parties discharged the
rule and asked the writ petitioner to pay 25000 Tk. as cost. Observer,
12 January.
Call
to check dowry
Participants at a discussion titled 'Action agenda for a dowry-free
Bangladesh' has emphasis on the creation of employment opportunities
and eradication of poverty to free the society from the curse of dowry.
They said campaign against dowry has to be initiated from the grassroots
level to create a social awareness against the system. The participants
also called for inclusion of negative implications of dowry in the academic
curriculum with a view to create awareness about its harmful effects.
Chief guest of the meeting Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Moudud Ahmed said unless unemployment issues are resolved in rural areas,
poverty would persist allowing dowry in the society. He added that the
government will try to include negative impact of dowry in school and
college curriculum from the next year after discussing the matter with
the education ministry. He also said the enforcement of law, a massive
awareness at the grassroots level is a must to stop this malpractice.Daily
Star, 9 January.
