Law
week
List of 103 EPR convicts sent to EC
The home ministry has sent to the Election Commission a list of 103 politicians and businessmen who are convicted of criminal offences under Emergency Powers Rules, to assist the commission in keeping them out of the parliamentary and upazila parishad races.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has yet to collect the list of individuals who were convicted of war crimes, although the chief election commissioner (CEC) earlier announced that the commission would collect the list to keep the war criminals out of the electoral races as well, EC sources said. The amended Representation of the People Order (RPO) and the new Upazila Parishad Ordinance disqualify convicted war criminals from contesting in the parliamentary and upazila elections. The EC however is working hard to bar loan and bill defaulters from contesting in the polls. -The Daily Star, November 12, 2008.
Retest samples of 8 brands locally
The High Court (HC) ordered the health ministry to send again samples of the already tested eight brands of powdered milk to three of the local laboratories that had earlier tested those for melamine contamination, and to submit the new results to the court within 21 days.
The designated laboratories are of the chemistry
department of Dhaka University (DU), Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). The court also ordered the government to publish in newspapers the results of all the tests done so far in order to let the public have access to those. It, however, lifted for 21 days the earlier ban imposed by itself on sale and display of the five popular brands among the eight --- Dano, Red Cow, Diploma, Nido and Anlene --- while ordering to continue the ban on the three Chinese brands Yashili 1, Yashili 2, and Sweet Baby 2. -The Daily Star, November 11, 2008.
Tension lessens in Bay, mounts on border
Bangladesh and Myanmar continue to mobilise troops along the border although the tension over Myanmar's attempt to explore oil and gas in Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal seems to be dying down.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the crisis in the Bay ended following the withdrawal of the fossil fuel exploration rig of Korean company Daewoo Saturday afternoon.The negotiations over the issue resulted in a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Myanmar, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters at the ministry. -The Daily Star, November 11, 2008.
9 doctors admit Falu's reports not official
Nine doctors of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) told the Supreme Court registrar the medical reports on former BNP lawmaker Mosaddek Ali Falu's health were not made by a medical board but were individual examination reports. Falu's counsels had complied those reports and submitted to the court as medical board's recommendations due to lack of “knowledge in medical terminology”, they claimed.
One of two doctors who did not sign the 'recommendations' also gave his statement saying he did not examine Falu's health. But the lawyers included their names to Falu's petition to ensure his bail. -The Daily Star, November 10, 2008.
EC warns BNP for violating electoral code of conduct
The Election Commission (EC) said BNP has violated the electoral code of conduct for the ninth parliamentary election by turning the reception accorded to party chief on November 7 in Chittagong into an electoral showdown. Directed by EC, its secretariat sent a letter to BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and reminded him that the event was a violation of electoral code of conduct.
It also requested BNP to abide by the code of conduct to maintain atmosphere conducive to holding the upcoming parliamentary polls, sources in the EC Secretariat said. -The Daily Star, November 10, 2008.
Call to scrap RPO to create uncertainty
Former adviser of caretaker government Hafizuddin Khan fears the country might 'plunge into uncertainty' if BNP sticks to its demands for scrapping of the RPO amendments, withdrawal of graft cases against its leaders and resignation of the election commissioners.
“However, if these are mere political rhetoric, I don't see any reason to panic,” he said in an interview with The Daily Star. Referring to the call for allowing those convicted under the Emergency Power Rules to contest the polls, he said meeting the demand would amount to undoing the reforms done over the last two years. It would prove harmful for the nation. No action could be taken against corruption and Bangladesh could be rendered a failed state. -The Daily Star, November 9, 2008.
CG to face court if fair polls not held: Dr Kamal
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said that if the caretaker government fails to hold a free and fair election, then they would have to face a court of law to answer for their actions.He was speaking at a meeting of Gono Forum's central committee at its headquarters at Arambagh in the city. The eminent lawyer called on the present government to follow the guidelines towards holding a proper election. Dr Kamal Hossain said a credible election is not possible by compromising with terrorist and corrupted people. The caretaker government has to be made accountable for carrying out tasks that are 'unethical and unconstitutional', he said. -The Daily Star, November 9, 2008.
Most private TT colleges are not equipped to offer courses
Almost all private teachers training (TT) colleges are incompetent and allegedly engaged in “selling certificates” as the government has yet to take any action against these institutions.
According to a survey of the education ministry, 89 private TT colleges and six private universities out of a total of 100 such institutions are unfit to offer training courses, especially for Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Master of Education (MEd). “Quality teachers are needed for ensuring quality education in the country. But how can we expect quality teachers when anyone can easily get certificates with good results from private TT colleges or universities even without attending classes, doing assignments and receiving practical training?” said Prof Taslima Begum, principal of Dhaka Government TT College. -The Daily Star, November 8, 2008.
Another toxic ship set to get ministry nod for scrapping
Ignoring threats to public health, the shipping ministry is likely to permit scrapping of another toxic shipSA Helderbergone of the 50 blacklisted by environmental watch group Greenpeace. Kabir Steel of Chittangong, a shipyard in Sitakunda, imported the ship now known as Asian Express. Built in 1977, the ship is believed to be riddled with asbestos, heavy and toxic metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, copper and zinc.
The ministry is now forming an investigation committee to check toxicity of the ship, now waiting at the outer anchorage of Chittagong port. -The Daily Star, November 8, 2008.
Corresponding with the Law Desk
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