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<%-- Page Title--%> Law Week <%-- End Page Title--%> |
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| <%-- Page Title--%> Issue No 96 <%-- End Page Title--%> |
June 15, 2003 |
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Rehabilitation
plan for sex workers urged
Speakers at a workshop urged the government to undertake need-based rehabilitation program to improve living conditions of sex workers. They also stressed the need for media campaign to change the negative attitude of the society towards the sex workers. CARE Bangladesh organised the workshop on the findings of the 'Needs assessment study on knowledge, attitudes, practice for advocacy on protection and promotion of human rights of sex workers. The study revealed that restoration of basic rights of sex workers could break the intergenerational cycle of prostitution. It said that interventions to change attitude could bring about improvements in four main areas- personal relations with family, relations with community and opportunities for children, working and living conditions, and relations with clients. The study was conducted with around 400 participants including MPs, politicians, journalists, UP members, religious leaders and local leaders. -Daily Star, 07 June. Another anti-crime drive soon The government is going to launch a countrywide massive crackdown on organised crimes and terrorists activities very soon by deploying army personnel along with Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). At least 10,000 extra men from BDR, Armed Police Battalion (APB) armed Ansar including 30,000 army personnel will be deployed to help the regular law enforcers during the time of massive hunt to catch the illegal arms holders and organised criminals. The decision was taken recently at the high level of the government following severe pressure from all corners of the society to take stern action against the organised criminals in a wake of deteriorating law an order situation. This is for the second time the government is going to conduct a countrywide anti-crime operation after the 'Operation Clean Heart'. -Observer, 07 June. Cases pending in Rajshahi The special tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression in Rajshahi has been facing with problems in disposing pending cases. The tribunal was set up in 1996 and functioning in a tin-shed building having no toilet, sereshta and record room. Some 1959 cases are now pending in the court. Besides the tribunal has a number of miss-cases sent for disposal from other criminal courts aggravated the situation. The sufferings of the litigants have increased due to delay in disposing the cases. -Independent, 07 June. 84 pc women tortured by husband About 75 to 84 percent women in Bangladesh are subjected to systematic and regular physical torture by their husbands. This was revealed by Bangladesh Mohila Parishad (BMP) at a discussion meeting. Other findings revealed in the meeting showed that around 6-7 percent of the women battered and abused by their husbands grow a trend for committing suicide and 54 percent of the women surveyed complained of sexual torture at post marriage phase of their lives. -Independent, 08 June. Corruption case against ex-ministers The Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) has filed two corruption cases against four persons including former minister Shah AMS Kibria and Prof. Abu Sayeed. BAC Inspector Mohammad Zulfikar Ali filed the cases with the Ramna police station. The first case has been filed against Mr. Kibria and AS Mahmud accusing them of misuse of power which caused a loss of Tk. 1.247 crore of public money. In another case former state minister for information Professor Abu Sayeed, former information secretary M Akmal Hossain and former chairman of the ETV were charged with irregularities in the licensing process of ETV, which did not participate in the tender within the stipulated time. - Bhorer Kagoj, 09 June. Rehabilitation project in Barishal The government has allocated Tk. 1.14 crore for rehabilitation of acid victims and physically disabled people in six district under Barishal division. The programmes will aim at making them self-reliant through income generating project and training so that they can lead normal life. A nine-member district steering committee and ten-member upazila committees will implement the programmes under the supervision of Social Service Directorate under the Ministry of Social Welfare. - Daily Star, 02 June Law to protect plant varieties soon The government is going to enact a law to protect plant varieties and ensure farmers' rights. The aim of the law is to encourage the breeders to invest in the development of plant varieties. Other objectives of the proposed law are to develop control mechanism for commercialisation of varieties, fulfil commitments under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, create non-commercial awards and ensure constitutional arrangements for effective implementation of the act. -Daily Star, 09 June. Cabinet okays flag rule amendment The cabinet has approved a proposal for amendment to the Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance 1982. According to the proposed amendment foreign flag vessels will be exempted to take waiver certificates for two years for loading and unloading cargo at Bangladesh ports. A bill to this end will be placed before the parliament after necessary vetting by the law ministry. The amendment will empower the shipping directorate to issue a general waiver to all foreign vessel operators for two years. Under the existing rule, the shipping directorate issues waiver certificate in individual Cases. -Prothom Alo, 10 June. Formation of RAB approved The cabinet has approved a proposal to from an elite law enforcing force ie. Rapid Action Force (RAB) to combat the growing streams of crimes. RAB will be formed by drawing skilled, physically fit and meritorious serving members from the armed forces, BDR and other law enforcement agencies. As per the proposal, RAB will be constituted as a striking arm of the Armed Police Battalion (APB). The force will be equipped with sophisticated weapons and well trained personnel drawn on a maximum of two years deputation. It will function under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police. -Daily Star, 10 June. Advocacy for Water Act Bangladesh needs a Water Act immediately to tap its huge water resources. Bangladesh has formulated a draft of water act without discussing with the people concerned. It was alleged that the draft has been copied from the laws of some African countries. The speakers of a seminar revealed these which was organised by the Environment Directorate on 'Water and bio-diversity' was held under the auspices of UBINIG and Naya Krishi Andolon (NKA). -Daily Star, 04 June.
The Public Safety Tribunal of Chittagong has set a record by settling 385 cases out of 548 during the last three years. Judge ANM Bashirullah delivered verdicts of all cases from April 2000 to April 2003 during his 33 working months. This was stated in a fact-finding report jointly written by president and secretary of Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR). The report said that a total of 548 cases were filed with the Tribunal and it settled 358 cases during the period. Among the unsettled cases, the Higher Court stayed 63 cases, while 100 cases were pending for disposal. The Tribunal recorded statements of 3,816 witnesses during the period. -Daily Star, 05 July. 31 policemen killed in 20 months A total of 31 policemen were killed in the last 20 months across the country. During the period 341 policemen were injured in clash with criminals. Among the 31, 14 were killed including seven in the capital by the terrorists in the last five months of the current year. - Observer, 05 June. |
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