Judicial
service commission drafted
The
government has finalised a draft of the body for recruiting judges for
lower courts. The draft will be submitted to Prime Minister Khaleda
Zia in a couple of days and President will promulgate rules to form
the commission after her approval. Seven members -- an Appellate Division
judge, a Public Service Commission member, the law, establishment and
finance secretaries, registrar of the Supreme Court and Dhaka district
and session's judge -- will sit on the committee. The government is
forming this body in line with the 12 point directive issued by the
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to separate the judiciary from
the executive. -Law Desk.
Amendment
to Copyright Act okayed
The cabinet has approved amendment to the Copyright Act 2000.
The amendment is aiming to preserve national interest in international
trade in the perspective of globalisation as well as attract adequate
foreign investment in the country. The approval was given at the weekly
cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the chair at her
office. The Cabinet also approved the draft of the State Acquisition
and Tenancy (Amendment) Act 2004 providing for the formation of special
tribunal to settle land record and survey-related cases. -Observer,
20 January.
Backlog
of cases in PDB courts
The 16-year-old litigation system of the Power Development
Board (PDB), is bogged down with over 60,000 pending cases. Sixteen
PDB courts, formed exclusively to deal with cases over outstanding bills
filed under the Electricity Act, 1910, have been falling far short of
their target and purpose. Under this law, a person found guilty can
be sentenced to imprisonment or fined or both. These PDB courts can
clear 14,000 cases a year at most, but every year there are about 4,000
to 5,000 more cases that they are unable to resolve. As a result, there
were 43,000 cases pending with the PDB courts in 1999-2000. Most of
the pending cases are shelved in Chittagong North and South courts of
the PDB. -Daily Star, 20 January.
Detention
of 13 Indians challenged
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court has issued a rule
upon the government to show cause why the detention of 13 Indian nationals
should not be declared unlawful. The rule has been made returnable within
two weeks. The Indian citizens had already served out their term in
prison. ful. The also asked the government to explain why other similarly
incarcerated persons should not be released forthwith. The order came
upon a public interest litigation writ filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid
and Services Trust (Blast) challenging the "unlawful detention"
in prison of the Indian nationals after the expiry of their sentence
awarded by Rajshahi District and Sessions Judge's Court two and a half
years ago. - Law Desk.
Watchdog
to curb cop corruption
Government is considering setting up an intelligence force
to check crimes in the police force. Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury
informed the Jatiya Sangsad. But the minister did not specify how soon
the new force would be set up. Replying to a separate query, Altaf said
the government has allowed hawkers to sit and run their business on
several city footpaths. He said policemen are assigned to patrol and
ensure that people are not robbed in those busy roadside makeshift markets.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Monjur Kader raised the question
about hawkers occupying some important city pavements at Motijheel,
Gulistan and Baitul Mukarram areas and expressed concern at frequent
incidents of pickpocket there. -Daily Star, 22 January.
AD
cancels bail of Khwaja Habib
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the
High Court order granting bail to two Khwaja Habibullah Habib, a ward
commissioner of Dhaka City Corporation. Khwaja Habib, sentenced to 27-year
imprisonment in an arms case, was granted bail two months ago after
17 weeks of the conviction. The Appellate Division asked the convict
to surrender before the lower court in two weeks. The order came upon
petition filed by the government, seeking stay of the High Court orders
granting him bail. The Appellate Division also asked the government
to come up with regular leave petition for hearing of the cases. Additional
Attorney General Abdur Rezzak Khan appeared for the state. -Ittefaq,
21 January.
5,585
Bangladeshis languishing in foreign jails
A total of 5,585 Bangladeshis are languishing in the prisons
of 38 countries all over the world. At the same time, 713 foreigners
are stuck in Bangladeshi jails even after completing their various terms,
unable to leave due to monetary constraints or for the lack of proper
documentation. A total of 239 foreigners have been released on bail
in the last year. Of them, two have been sent back to neighbouring countries,
27 are with their guarantors and eight are absconding. The deputy commissioners
concerned do not know the whereabouts of the other 202. Of the 5,585
Bangladeshi prisoners abroad, 1,584 are in Indian jails. This was revealed
during a meeting of the cabinet committee on jail reforms. The cabinet
committee asked the foreign ministry to direct the Bangladesh missions
concerned to arrange legal aid for the Bangladeshis languishing in foreign
prisons through legal aid organisations working in the respective countries.
The committee also decided to visit Dhaka Central Jail next month. The
meeting was told that 141 under-trial foreign prisoners in Bangladesh
had been provided legal aid in the last one year and the cases against
37 of those foreigners had been rejected. -New Age, 22 January.
