Law
week
Govt to saw legal link off illegal wood trade
The government plans to stop issuing special permits for buying wood from its depots as the official documents often end up being abused by illegal traders and also mean a loss in revenue from timber sales.
Usually, the permits are given to influential individuals like ministers, lawmakers, and civil and military officials to buy logs at bargain prices for building house or making furniture. They entitle ministers and state ministers to buy up to 500 cubic feet, and secretaries and military high-ups 300 cft wood.
Unfortunately, these papers have long been a cover for unauthorised timber trade. Bought from original holders and sometimes issued with official connivance, they are widely used in getting illegal logs past the forest checkpoints and delivered to sawmills and furniture shops, said forest ministry officials. -The Daily Star, February 03, 2009.
16 more upazila results may be suspended
Election results of 16 more upazila parishads are likely to be suspended on grounds of gross irregularities, raising the number of such upazilas to 30.
Upon receiving specific allegations of anomalies in the polls, the Election Commission (EC) has instructed its secretariat not to publish the results of those upazilas in official gazettes, EC Secretariat sources said. Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussein confirmed the commission's moves over the telephone.
The EC on January 27 suspended election results of seven upazilas on grounds of gross irregularities. It also decided to go for judicial enquiry to check the authenticity of the allegations and determine the next course of action. -The Daily Star, February 03, 2009.
AL men grab taxicab business at ZIA
Leaders and activists of Airport police station unit of Awami League (AL) and its front organisations took control of the cab service counters at Zia International Airport after driving out the three lessees of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
They locked the rooms of the three firms--BM Transport, Green Bangla and Baba Auto Gas and took the possession of those offices claiming that they have obtained a ruling of the court recently in favour of them as it stayed operating the counters by the firms.
On Saturday, some Juba League activists swooped on Sramik League men at the airport to take control of the car park there, leaving three people injured. -The Daily Star, February 02, 2009.
5 banks get BB notice
Bangladesh Bank issued show cause notices to five banks for not informing the central bank about suspicious transactions. The banks include three local private commercial banks and two foreign commercial banks.
BB sources said the notices asked the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the banks to show cause why action would not be taken against their suspicious transactions. Anti-money laundering law says if any transaction seems suspicious the bank concerned must inform the matter immediately to Bangladesh Bank.
In 2006-07 and 2007-08 fiscal years two oil-importing firms exported edible oil to India at a price lower than the local market rate. The intelligence agencies, in this regard, submitted reports to the ministries of home and commerce during the tenure of the last caretaker government. Later chief adviser's office tasked Bangladesh Bank with investigating the matter and take necessary action. -The Daily Star, February 02, 2009.
JS body to scan all 122 ordinances
A special committee of the Jatiya Sangsad decided to thoroughly scrutinise all 122 ordinances promulgated during and just prior to the immediate past caretaker government's regime, before placing them as bills in the parliament for ratification.
The committee, consisting of senior lawmakers, also questioned the caretaker government's jurisdiction to promulgate the ordinances frequently by overstepping the bounds of its constitutional authority, according to meeting participants.
In its first meeting held in the parliament building, the high-powered special committee also put off acceptance of an expert committee's recommendation for ratifying 50 of the ordinances, until hearing the logic for the recommendation. -The Daily Star, February 01, 2009.
JS resolution made govt obligated
Thursday's resolution in parliament means the government is now under an obligation to ensure the trial of war criminals, says the law minister. Passed unanimously, it calls on the new administration to take immediate measures to try those who had committed war crimes in 1971.
Talking to The Daily Star, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed said, "Since it's a resolution adopted by the legislature, the government will now assume responsibility for the trial." To get the ball rolling, it first needs to settle on how to go about the task.
Shafique said since war crimes are considered criminal offences, the home ministry will be in charge of the prosecution of their perpetrators. State will be the complainant. -The Daily Star, February 01, 2009.
Form special war crime tribunal, commission
Sector Commanders, intellectuals, lawyers and academicians suggested that the new government form a special tribunal and a commission to try the war criminals and collect evidences of war crimes.
However, some of them proposed holding the trial under international laws involving the United Nations for its acceptance to all. They also congratulated the new government and the lawmakers on passing the resolution in the parliament unanimously on 'immediate' trial of war criminals on Thursday.
Terming the move 'the first victory of their movement,' Sector Commander Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah said the trial of war criminals has become a national demand. He said the trial should begin under the international laws involving the United Nations. -The Daily Star, January 31, 2009.
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