LAW
week
US
wants full access to evidence & witnesses for FBI
involvement
The US asked the government for full access to all evidence
and witnesses of last Thursday's Habiganj grenade attack
if they are to send the FBI for investigation into the
carnage.
US
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina
Rocca called Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan to explain
her government's position regarding clear terms of reference
as she said inaccessibility to evidence had rendered ineffective
the FBI's help in the August 21 grenade attack investigation.
She added that the US believes FBI assistance to last
Thursday's grenade attack investigation has already been
'greatly undermined' as the crime scene has already been
contaminated because of inadequate protection. The
Daily Star, January 31.
EU
concerned at street violence
The heads of mission of the European Union (EU) expressed
concern at the current spate of violence on the streets
in Bangladesh and called for a national 'confidence-building'
dialogue to avoid deterioration of the situation. They
reiterated that the government must ensure swift action
and a thorough and transparent investigation into the
killings in the January 27 grenade attack.
The
European envoys urged all parties to exercise restraint
and refrain themselves from actions that can deteriorate
the situation. The call came from the EU mission chiefs
after they met with Leader of the Opposition and Awami
League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina in the capital and discussed
the prevailing political situation following the grenade
attack in Habiganj.
The
AL however said a national dialogue could take place only
when there is a congenial atmosphere and good relations
between the government and the opposition.
The
EU delegation also included German Ambassador Dietrich
Andreas, French Ambassador Jacques-Andre Costilhes, Danish
Charge d'Affaires Tom Hansen, Italian Ambassador Pietro
Ballero, Swedish Ambassador Borje Mattson and EC delegation
head in Bangladesh Ambassador Esko Kentrschynskyj. Prothom
Alo, February 2.
HC
declares illegal removal order of judge Shahidur
The High Court (HC) declared illegal the president's order
removing additional judge Syed Shahidur Rahman in April
last year. "The President's order removing Syed Shahidur
Rahman from his office is beyond the mandate of Article
96 of the Constitution and he (President) has failed to
apply his mind to it in passing the order," observed
the court. Division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu
Nayem Mominur Rahman and Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury
delivered the verdict after hearing the writ filed by
the removed additional judge challenging the president's
order.
Attorney
General A F Hassan Ariff conceded that the order of Shahidur
Rahman's removal "has not been done in accordance
with the constitutional provision." The allegations
of bail fixing against Shahidur were not proved beyond
doubt, he added. He referred to the report of the Supreme
Judicial Council (SJC) headed by the chief justice that
said, "There is total absence of material in support
of the allegations nor can it be said that the allegations
are without any basis." UNB, February 3.
Police
get important clue of Habiganj carnage
Police have arrested three BNP activists and picked up
18 people for questioning from Habiganj and Sylhet in
connection with the Habiganj carnage that left former
finance minister SAMS Kibria and four others dead. But
police declined to divulge political identity of the three
persons arrested under Section 54 of the CrPC. Their family
members however told The Daily Star they are involved
with the BNP and its affiliates. Two of the arrestees,
Shah Alam and Jainal Abedin Jalal have been placed on
an eight-day remand and are being questioned in the custody
of the local detective branch. The other one Abdul Wahed
Sohel was sent to jail, as police did not seek his remand.
Investigators
are tight-lipped about the outcome of their quizzing Shah
Alam and Jainal so far. The Daily Star, February 4.
Corresponding
with the Law Desk
Please send your mails, queries, and opinions to: Law
Desk, The Daily Star 19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215;
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