Govt. seeks another time extension
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction for delaying the
implementation of its directives towards separation of the judiciary
when the Attorney General sought a further extension of four months
to do so. This is the 18th extension sought by the Attorney General
since the court issued 12 points directives in its historic judgement
in Mazdar Hossains case in 1999. The court advised the Attorney General
to convey its sentiment to the Government. Highly embarrassed Attorney
General AF Hassan Arif submitted that developments toward implementation
of the court's directives were not communicated to him and pleaded for
adjournment of hearing on the petition for two weeks. The court adjourned
the hearing till 19th April but asked the Attorney General to come up
with an affidavit citing specific reasons for seeking further extension.
- The Daily Star, 14 April 2004
Moudud
asks for suspension of policemen
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed
asked the authorities to suspend the policemen who took an attempted
murder case in which a 3-year-old child was implicated. The law minister
rang up the home secretary and the Inspector General of Police (IGP)
on the bizarre matter and asked them to suspend the policemen who took
the case after newspapers ran reports on Wednesday 14th April. The 3
years old baby boy Iman Ali, accused in an attempted murder case filed
with Sutrapur Police Station, surrendered before the Court of Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka on 13th April in his father's lap and
prayed for bail. The sensational appearance drew hundreds of onlookers
to the court premises, as the baby boy looked horrified at the court
environment with lots of policemen, lawyers, journalists and litigants
around. Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Towfiqul Alam, however, granted
bail to Iman upon a bond of Tk 5,000 with two guarantors -- the father
and one of his lawyers. The prosecution did not oppose the bail petition.
- The Daily Star, 16 April, 2004.
Special
court for money laundering on cards
The Government may setup special court for dealing with money laundering
cases, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister said it on Tuesday,
April 13th. He said the government is now taking opinions of all stakeholders
to amend the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to make it more
effective and dynamic. Speaking at a seminar on "Anti-Money Laundering"
which was organised by Citibank NA at a local hotel in Dhaka. He further
added 'With the introduction of the anti-money laundering law, smuggling
and narcotics business has decreased in the country.' Lauren Pickett,
director Global Anti-Money Laundering Training at Citigroup also spoke
at the seminar.- The Daily Star, 14 April 2004.
Health
minister to face trial on graft charge
Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain is to face trial on corruption
charges brought by the Bureau of Anti-corruption (Bac) in 1998. His
petition for quashing the case pending with the lower court was dismissed
by the High Court Division on Sunday 11th April. With its order the
stay on trial process stands vacated. A division bench comprising Justice
Sheikh Rezwan Ali and Justice AFM Ali Asgar pronounced the verdict discharging
the rule after a lengthy hearing. Bac filed the case during the Awami
League rule against Mosharraf who was minister in charge of Energy and
Mineral Resources during the previous BNP regime. He was accused of
awarding Tk 678.44 crore work to a foreign company for exploration of
Baropukuria coal at Dinajpur without floating tender to accrue personal
financial gains and thus caused a loss of Tk 16 crore to the state.
Charge sheet was submitted to the court and the trial was on until the
High Court Division stayed the process upon the petition for quashing
the case. - UNB, Dhaka, 13 April 2004.
Baishakhi
Mela row reaches Supreme Court
The High Court Division on 13th April directed the City Corporation
to submit reports on the steps the corporation has so far taken to maintain
and preserve the Dhanmondi playground in line with the Wetland Protection
Act 2000. The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation had
planned a seven-day Baishakhi Mela on the ground that begins from 14th
April on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. A division bench
of Justice MA Matin and Justice Syed Refat Ahmed has asked the Dhaka
City Corporation to say the action it has taken to remove unauthorised
structures on the playground. The bench asked the City Corporation to
submit the reports within 20 days on a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh
Paribesh Andolan and the Institute of Architects Bangladesh for an injunction
on the holding of the fair. But the court imposed no injunction on the
holding of the fair, marking the Bangla New Year, on the ground, owned
by the City Corporation. The industries corporation, however, did not
take any permission from the city corporation. Holding such fairs on
the playground is in violation of the Wetland Protection Act 2000. The
Act does not allow any changes in the design and structure of any open
space, playground, park and natural wetland in the metropolitan cities,
district headquarters and municipal areas. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan
and the Institute of Architects on Saturday served a legal notice on
the City Corporation, the Public Works Ministry and Rajuk to immediately
stop the holding of the fair. The notice said holding fairs at such
places is a violation of Section 5 of the act. The section bans use
of playgrounds for any other purposes. The notice asked the authorities
concerned to take steps by 2.30pm on Sunday 11th April. Paribesh Andolan
and the institute will, otherwise, move to the High Court to seek redress
under Article 102 of the constitution. The organisations filed the writ
petition on Tuesday 13th April at the High Court as there was no move
by the agencies concerned by the deadline. - New Age, 14
April 2004.
