Law
week
Biggest pullout from CHT
In a major development towards implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 1997, the government has decided to withdraw one brigade of troops and 35 temporary security camps from CHT areas by this September. As part of phasing out of military from the three hill districts as per the agreement, the announced withdrawal will start immediately, says an official statement disclosed. A few more steps are also being taken to implement the historic peace accord. -The Daily Star, July 30, 2009.
Govt asked to procure quake rescue equipment
The High Court in a verdict directed the government to procure necessary rescue equipment in case of any earthquake disaster in the country. The HC also directed the government to form a committee headed by the secretary to the home ministry to prepare a list of necessary equipment within two months. The committee will place its recommendations to face any earthquake disaster and the list of rescue equipment to the finance ministry for allocation of fund within two months after the formation of the committee, the court ruled. -The Daily Star, July 30, 2009.
PM for joint efforts to combat crime
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed deputy commissioners to work in coordination with the superintendents of police and upazila nirbahi officers concerned for improving law and order in the country. Addressing the opening session of a three-day conference for DCs at the Prime Minister's Office, Hasina instructed them to work to stamp out militancy, extremism and other crimes from the society. The prime minister also asked them to execute development initiatives and government projects properly remaining above all influences. -The Daily Star, July 29, 2009.
Move to identify perpetrators of '71 genocide
A two-day international conference begins to pave the way for identifying the perpetrators of genocide during the Liberation War and developing a broad network to bring those responsible to justice. "This conference is going to be held at a historic moment for the nation when the government is making a move towards the trial of war criminals," said trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haque at a press conference held at the museum premises in the city. The conference titled Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice--organised by the Liberation War Museum at Cirdap auditorium--will bring together representatives from International Criminal Court, prosecutors involved in war crimes tribunals, International Council of Jurists, and academics from Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Canada, Cambodia, UK and Bangladesh. -The Daily Star, July 29, 2009.
Prosecutors and investigators to be named shortly
The government will finalise the names of prosecutors and investigators within a day or two for holding the long-awaited trial of war criminals, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said. "We have already got the names of probable prosecutors and investigators for the trial and we will finalise the names after reviewing their profiles within a day or two," he said while talking to the press at a book launching ceremony as the chief guest at Bangladesh Asiatic Society auditorium in the evening. The minister said there is no legal complication in holding the trial of war criminals, as the government had updated the respective law. -The Daily Star, July 27, 2009.
Long march by indigenous people to protest attacks
Over two hundred members of the indigenous community began a two-day long march across 55 kilometres from Porsha upazila to Naogaon town to protest attacks on indigenous families. The march was organised under the banner of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad (JAP) after a gang led by Nur Hosssain Master of Soraigachhi attacked the houses of some 74 families including 54 indigenous families at Katirpur on June 12. They torched, damaged and looted the houses and also randomly beat up indigenous men, women and children during the attack. -The Daily Star, July 27, 2009.
Small errors fail ACC cases
The anti-graft cases filed against high-profile accused are getting quashed or stayed due to trivial technical glitches although allegations brought against them have merit and were substantiated. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases are mainly facing problems like issuance of notices on 50 such accused by the ACC secretary when the three-member commission was not formed and filing some cases without sanction. More than 200 high-profile accused have so far obtained stay orders on their cases filed in absence of sanction by the commission. -The Daily Star, July 26, 2009.
Fee riddle in ratified constitution
The amended constitution of the Awami League has fixed new fees to be paid by its lawmakers to party funds, but it did not specify whether the payments will be monthly or annual. Before the amendment at Friday's national council, a member of the AL Parliamentary Party had to pay Tk 100 a month each to the funds of the party and its parliamentary body. The amendments to the AL constitution, which was submitted to the Election Commission, said each member will now have to pay Tk 500 each to those funds. But it does not clarify the nature of the payments. -The Daily Star, July 26, 2009.
3 Rab men held on extortion charge, Tk 7 lakh recovered
Police arrested three Rab personnel on charge of snatching Tk 10.86 lakh from a man threatening to kill him in crossfire. After the arrest police recovered around Tk 7 lakh from the arrestees. The victim was Tajul Islam Hiron, 30, marketing manager of Fair Advertising at RK Mission Road in the capital. The arrestees were assistant superintendent of police Shoeb Ahmed and sepoys Sagar Chandra and Shahidul Alam of Rab-3.The authorities concerned have suspended the three Rab personnel. They were produced before a Dhaka court, which sent them to jail. -The Daily Star, July 25, 2009.
Mayors, rabbis detained in US anti-graft sweep
US law enforcement agents on arrested dozens of politicians and rabbis in an anti-corruption sweep alleging money laundering, extortion, bribery and even trafficking in human organs. The stunning New Jersey swoop netted 44 people across a state long seen as one of the most corrupt and crime-ridden in the country. Five rabbis were among the suspects, along with the mayors of the cities of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield, the Jersey City deputy mayor and council president, two state assembly members, and numerous other politicians, prosecutors said. -The Daily Star, July 25, 2009.
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