IMF
may enjoy legal immunity
The government has finalised all the formalities regarding
the bill, seeking an amendment to the International Financial Organisation
Order 1972. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will
enjoy legal immunity in Bangladesh once the parliament approves the
bill. The bill was scheduled to be placed in the last session of the
parliament. Sources said it could not be placed for time constraints.
"The International Financial Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2004"
is now likely to be placed before the parliament in its next session.
Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman will put forward the bill
for discussion. -New Age, September 21.
Jail
Killing Case
A Dhaka court put off the verdict on the historic Jail Killing Case
for a second time in two weeks, as it entertained a petition a lawyer
filed in his last-ditch effort to save his client. The decision pushed
into uncertainty the much-awaited verdict that was set to come about
29 years after the brutal assassination of four national leaders that
still stirs up emotions among people. The verdict was rescheduled from
September 7 to August 21, as Judge Motiur Rahman could not attend court
because of his illness. The Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, withdrawing
from delivering the verdict, brought the case back to trial-stage, setting
in motion more protracted legal arguments. Amid beefed-up security,
the court fixed September 29 for deposition of witness Saifuddin Ahmed,
the then deputy superintendent of police and second investigation officer,
upon the petition filed by ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul, lawyer for accused
on-bail Taheruddin Thakur.
The court did not
schedule any date for pronouncement of the judgement on the killing
of the leaders who gave political leadership during the War of Independence.
-Daily Star ,August 22.
The
cabinet committee on land reforms has already proposed a 25-point recommendation
to the government and the cabinet has approved the report. As a part
of the process, four bills to amend the Bangladesh Registration Act
1908, the Specific Relief Act 1877, the Transfer of Property Act 1882
and the Limitation Act 1908 will be placed in the parliament. -New
Age, September 13.
HR
body during coalition tenure
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed said the
government would set up a national human rights commission during its
tenure. "We are pledge-bound to the people to set up a national
human rights commission and we will do it as soon as possible,"
Moudud said at a press conference following a three-day International
Conference on Institutional Protection of Human Rights in the capital.
Pressed by newsmen later to give a specific timeframe, the minister
said the commission will be formed before the tenure of this government
is over. -Daily Star ,August 22.
Interpol
experts may visit Dhaka again
Interpol may send experts to Bangladesh again to help probe into the
August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League (AL) rally, if required.
"If Interpol determines that its officers can provide further assistance
to Bangladeshi authorities in the investigation, others may return to
Bangladesh in the future," said an Interpol press release. Interpol
experts, who left Dhaka on completion of initial investigation, will
now conduct further analysis and evaluation of their findings. -
Daily Star ,August 23.
HC
rule on govt over Sylhet
The High Court ordered the government on Wednesday to produce Ranjit
Sarker, an advocate of the Sylhet district bar who was arrested for
suspected involvement in the bomb blast incident at Gulshan hotel of
Sylhet, by Tuesday noon to prove that he had not been detained unlawfully.
A vacation bench of Justice Md Awlad Ali and Justice AFM Abdur Rahman
also stayed the remand of Ranjit, who is also a leader of Juba Dal,
youth front of the ruling BNP, till disposal of the rule nisi, in which
the court asked the government to explain the legality of his remand
and detention. It further ordered that Ranjit could not be taken to
any further remands in the case. The court came up with the order hearing
a writ petition that challenged the remand of Ranjit. - New Age,
23.
Another
elite anti-crime force
Another crime-busting elite force, the fourth in a row, has hit the
road in plainclothes in a bid to contain widespread crime. The force,
renamed Cheetah and originally dubbed as Panther, is now gathering intelligence
about the hardened criminals. Home ministry sources said this new force
will act like the other elite force, Rapid Action Battalion, with similar
kinds of weapons and power by next week. But this force will act under
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and will not have any members of the
armed forces. A top police official said high-performing policemen who
had received special anti-crime training from time to time have been
cobbled under the elite team. The members will undergo more training
in course of time. This undercover team will strike criminals and their
lairs and will be equipped to face 'any kind of tough situation'. -
Daily Star, September 24.
