Law
week
Cop faces music over inaction
The drug court will decide over the fate of the officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Sadar Police Station, as he did not submit any report on execution of the arrest warrant against three absconding accused of Rid Pharma Ltd even six months after the case was filed. The drug court fixed for giving order against the police officer after the special public prosecutor appealed to the court to take stringent action against the officer-in-charge. Special Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir in his petition said the court had earlier asked the OC to submit reports on execution of the arrest warrants against the three on seven consecutive dates. - The Daily Star, February 18, 2010.
DCC polls in May if HC okays area demarcation
The Dhaka City Corporation elections would be held late in May if the High Court approves demarcation of the areas under DCC, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda. Talking to reporters at the Election Commission he, said the city dwellers are being deprived of various facilities, as the DCC polls is pending for two-and-a-half years, reported private television channel ATN Bangla. The CEC said the EC is interested in demarcating the city corporation areas after holding the elections. -The Daily Star, February 18, 2010.
28 Bangladeshi detainees to return from Thailand today
Thailand repatriates 28 Bangladeshis detained along with some 200 Rohingyas from the sea by Thai authorities over a year ago. "When the Thai authorities came to know there were some Bangladeshis they approached the Bangladesh mission in Bangkok. The embassy visited them and sent a list of their names and identities to the foreign ministry. Our police then verified the identities. And now they are returning," said Saida Muna Tasneem, director general for external publicity of the foreign ministry. - The Daily Star, February 17, 2010.
HC stays DCC poll schedule till Feb 23
The High Court stayed till February 23 the Election Commission's declaration of schedule for holding elections to Dhaka City Corporation. The EC was reportedly due to announce the schedule this week.The court also issued a rule upon the government, DCC and EC asking them to explain within the time frame why they should not be directed to demarcate areas of DCC wards on the basis of population. Besides, the court asked them to explain why they should not be directed to bring the new 17 mouzas into DCC wards. - The Daily Star, February 16, 2010.
Stop saline water flow to farmland
The High Court directed the government to take effective measures to stop flow of saline water for shrimp cultivation in agricultural lands in four coastal districts. The directive was issued as a writ petition sought it for saving farm lands from salinity and for protecting environment in the districts of Khulna, Stakhira, Bagerhat, Noakhali, and Chakaria Sundarban and Sonadia islands. Besides, the HC ordered the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) authorities to submit a report to it within four months on the damage caused to soil, water and air due to dumping of industrial waste at Amin Bazar in Savar. -The Daily Star, February 16, 2010.
EU pledges climate help
The European community will always stand by Bangladesh in protecting its people from the disastrous impacts of increasing global warming and climate change. The assurance came when a six-member high-level delegation from the European Union Headquarters led by Jean Lambert, a member of the European parliament, met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Jamuna. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the European delegation eulogised the PM for her strong and visionary role in the international conferences on climate change. - The Daily Star, February 15, 2010.
Nine BDR men claim innocence
The nine BDR men accused of mutiny claimed themselves innocent in written statements submitted to the Special Court-4 of Bangladesh Rifles in Rangamati. The jawans of 12 Rifles Battalion at Rajnagar in the district submitted the statements following a court directive, reports our Rangamati correspondent. They also said the allegations brought against them by their officers (prosecutors) are completely fabricated and untrue. They claimed that they are not guilty. - The Daily Star, February 15, 2010.
JS boost for judiciary
A parliamentary sub-committee has recommended introduction of judicial allowances and increased salaries and other benefits for judges of the Supreme Court and subordinate courts. It termed their existing salaries "inconsistent" with the socio-economic situation in the country. Salaries and allowances of SC judges should be increased by more than three times and those of subordinate court judges should also be raised significantly, the House body proposed. -The Daily Star, February 14, 2010.
Tarique's cases against Hasina, Quader dismissed
Two defamation cases filed by Tarique Rahman against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party colleague Obaidul Quader were dismissed last year upon a judicial inquiry.
It however could be known only recently. Tarique, now senior vice-chairman of BNP, filed three defamation cases against Awami League President Hasina, the then AL general secretary Abdul Jalil and Obaidul Quader on November 19, 2006. - The Daily Star, February 14, 2010.
Fresh encroachment on Gulshan Lake
Despite High Court directives not to fill any portion of Gulshan-Banani Lake, an influential quarter is out to grab around 10 kathas of the lake land. On February 11, 2010, Thursday night, a hired gang of youths and labourers cut down 15 big flowering trees by the lakeside at the end of roads-23 and -23/B in Gulshan. The same night they fenced in a 10-katha stretch of land with corrugated iron sheets and filled up part of that with rubble. They also put up a signboard that reads 'The owner of this land is Hasena Banu', said people living nearby. - The Daily Star, February 13, 2010.
Recruitment of 15 judges this week
The government is going to appoint around 15 new judges to the High Court division of the Supreme Court within this week. Sources said these judges would be appointed as part of the government's plan to appoint a total of 50 more judges to the HC to deal with a huge backlog of pending cases. The government has already completed the process of appointment of the new judges, and arranged logistics for them, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said. While talking to The Daily Star on February 8, the minister said the government will appoint judges to the Appellate Division of the SC in order to fill up the four vacant posts of the apex court judge. - The Daily Star, February 13, 2010.
Corresponding with the Law Desk
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