Law
Week
Dhaka elected to UN peace commission
In a resounding recognition of its contribution to UN peacekeeping mission, Bangladesh have been elected to the newly established Peace-Building Commission of the United Nations. An official announcement in Dhaka said the peace commission was set up following a decision reached by world leaders in New York last September. "The 31-member body will fill a gap in the UN system where as yet there was no institutional mechanism to oversee the transition from peace-keeping development in post-conflict societies, which is what this body is mandated to do," it said. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, ambassador and permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, told the media that this was yet another "resounding recognition of Bangladesh by the international community". He said Bangladesh is specially qualified to serve in this new commission for three reasons. "First, we are currently the UN's top troop contributor in peacekeeping. Secondly, indigenous development ideas like micro-credit and informal education have emanated from our soil and are considered 'best practices' that can transform post-conflict societies as has happened in our own case. And finally, our views on global issues are always seen to be constructive, and as a commission member we will continue in the same positive manner," he pointed out. --UNB, Dhaka, May 29.
15 Bangladeshi peacekeepers to be honoured posthumously
The United Nations for the first time will honour 124 peacekeepers including 15 Bangladeshis posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal this year. Coming from 46 countries including Bangladesh, they sacrificed their lives during 2005 in serving UN peacekeeping operations around the world. The 15 Bangladeshi peacekeepers died last year serving in the cause of peace.
They will be awarded with the medals by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr Jean-Marie Guehenno, at a function to be addressed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, says a press release. The event will be organised in UN Headquarters in New York on May 31 in observance of the International Day for the UN peacekeepers. Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury will receive the awards for onward forwarding to their next of kin. In his message on the UN Peacekeepers Day (May 29), Secretary-General Kofi Annan noted that Bangladesh is one of the three countries, which made significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. According to him, "the leading contributors, by far, are India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which collectively provide more than 40 per cent on UN peacekeepers --and as a result have also suffered some of the highest losses." --The Daily Star, May 29.
Case of Abbas
Prothom Alo editor, publisher granted bail
A Dhaka court granted bail to the editor and publisher of daily Prothom Alo in a defamation case filed by Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas. Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Shamsul Alam passed the order upon a bond of Tk 2,000 with two guarantors when the daily's editor Matiur Rahman and the publisher Mahfuz Anam appeared before the court. Earlier on May 18, the same court had issued warrants of arrest against them, as the two did not appear before it on three consecutive dates. The defence lawyers for the editor had submitted a medical certificate regarding his admission to a clinic and sought extension of time, but the court rejected the petition. Abbas had filed the case against them on February 2. In his complaint, Abbas said the news item headlined "Public works minister has objection to a police complex being built at Rajarbagh" run by the national daily on January 5 was false, baseless and concocted. The defendants appear to have connived to publish the report with an intention of bringing him into disrepute, Abbas said. --Prothom Alo, May 29.
Shanta's case against cops dismissed
A Dhaka court dismissed the case of Shahin Sultana Shanta, victim of police brutality during a protest programme of the 14-party opposition alliance on March 12. Judge Kaniz Akhter Nasrina Khanam of the Fourth Special Tribunal for Women and Children Repression dismissed the case, saying allegations brought against two deputy commissioners of police, a constable and 14 other unnamed cops were not proved. But primary investigation of a judicial inquiry commission found evidence of torture by police, who were also widely filmed by the media on that day. "Such activities of police are a punishable crime under Bangladesh Penal Code," Metropolitan Magistrate Shafiq Anwar, who headed the one-member commission, said in his report, which was submitted before the tribunal. It could have been appropriate for the police to arrest her and send to the court, but that was not done, said the report. Two days after the police excesses on Road No 27 in Dhanmondi, Shanta filed a case with the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka against 17 cops. --The Daily Star, May 22.
7 JMB linchpins handed death in Jhalakathi
A Barisal court sentenced to death Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and five other militants and acquitted one in the sensational Jhalakathi judges' killing case. The others to walk the gallows are the banned JMB's Majlish-e-Shura members Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal and Khaled Saifullah, suicide bomber Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun and Asadur Rahman Arif. Of them, Arif is absconding. Additional District and Sessions Judge of Jhalakathi Reza Tarik Ahmed delivered the judgement in a crowded courtroom with an unprecedented security blanket in the area. Protesting the trial held by a 'Taguti' court and not by an Islamic jury board, the top JMB leaders who were present in the dock retorted they would make a 'befitting response' to this. The terror don said they would not appeal against the judgement under the existing judicial system. --The Daily Star, May 30.
ACC Rejects Proposed Organogram
Government out to impose bureaucrats' control
The government is all set to impose an organisational structure on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in an apparent move to enable bureaucrats to control the 'independent' commission, sources said. The ACC rejected the proposed organogram terming it illegal. The Cabinet Division unilaterally proposed the set-up comprising 650 posts in 39 ranks, in which bureaucrats on deputation would hold all the high positions. "This foils the very purpose of establishing an independent anti-graft body by abolishing the Bureau of Anti-Corruption that was controlled by the government," said an ACC source. ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan said, "The proposed structure may hinder independent activities of the commission." But the Cabinet Division framed the proposal without the knowledge of the ACC and had it cleared by the establishment ministry and finance division. Whether the ACC rejects it or not, the cabinet division will place the proposal before the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reforms (Nicar), headed by the prime minister, for final approval. If Nicar approves it at a June 6 meeting, this organogram will be implemented in the ACC. --The Daily Star, May 30.
No more money whitening: Saifur
Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman has said the next budget will not allow whitening of black money. "The existing provision of whitening black money by paying 7.5 per cent tax will be nullified," he said at a pre-budget consultation meeting with the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF). He said he is also thinking about repealing the other provisions of the existing system like purchasing cars, apartments and plots in metropolitan areas after paying a certain amount of tax. "I was not very much conversant, but it is a serious provision and I will look into this," he said. Last year also Saifur opposed the provision of whitening black money, terming it "unethical", but later continued with it under pressures from the black money holders. Giving his views on the current economic situation, next budget and its priority areas, he told the meeting at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium that withdrawal of 10 per cent tax on interest income from small deposits will be considered in the next budget. Saifur, who is scheduled to place the national budget for fiscal 2006-07 in parliament on June 8, said the next budget will focus on pro-poor growth under the framework of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). --The Daily Star, May 30.
SC suspends guard for violating nat'l flag ruler
A guard of the Supreme Court (SC) was suspended for hoisting the national flag at half-mast on the death anniversary of president Ziaur Rahman on May 30. "We can't take the offence lightly, as it involves image of the highest judiciary," Fazlul Karim, registrar of the SC, told the news agency, confirming the suspension order against Golam Rabbani. The punitive action against the SC employee was taken on charge of violation of the National Flag Rule following newspaper reports along with photographs published that showed the national flag fluttering at half-mast in front of the chief justice's office on May 30. The registrar also said a departmental inquiry committee has been formed to probe the matter. According to the rule, there is no provision for hoisting the national flag at half-mast or atop marking the death or birth anniversary of any late president of Bangladesh. --UNB, Dhaka, June 1.
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