<%-- Page Title--%> Law week <%-- End Page Title--%>

March 14, 2004 

Extradition treaty with India soon
Bangladesh and India have agreed to sign an extradition treaty. The purpose of the treaty would be to hand over criminals who cross over from the other country to escape the law. This was informed by Home Minister Altaf Hossain after a meeting with the Indian foreign secretary. An extradition treaty gives diplomatic and legal coverage for the hand over to one country of criminals taking refuge in another country. -New Age, 11 March.

3,309 women raped in 3 years
Some 3,309 women were raped across the country in the last three years. Of them 351 were killed and 32 committed suicides. This was revealed by report compiled by Odhikar. The report said 575 women were killed and 54 women committed suicide, 206 tortured, 29 acid-burnt and six got divorces for dowry during the same time. In 2003, 1,336 women were raped and 142 of them were killed and 17 committed suicide, while 1,350 women were raped in 2002 and of them, 114 were killed and 12 committed suicide, the report said. In 2001, 623 women were raped, while 95 of them were murdered and three committed suicide. The report went on to say that 870 women fell prey to dowry during the period. Of them, 261 were killed, 87 tortured, 15 acid-burnt and one was divorced in 2003, while 191 women were killed, 90 tortured, 14 acid-burnt and one was divorced in 2002. Another 123 women were murdered, 31 tortured, three divorced for dowry in 2001. All the divorcees committed suicide. -Law Desk.

HC orders to remove extra bumper
The High Court has ordered to remove extra bumpers within one month from all vehicles of the city. A High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Naim Mominur Rahman and Justice Abdus Salam Mamun also directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to immediately make people aware of the order. The order was passed after hearing an application filed by the government seeking vacation of the stay order. The metropolitan police set a July 10, 2003 deadline for removal of additional bumpers from all motorised vehicles, after a doctor was dragged to death on July 1 when his leg got tangled in the rear bumper of a speeding private car. The Traffic Department of the metropolitan police declared that it would fine violators with a minimum of Tk 1,200 and a maximum of Tk 5,000 under Section 151 of the Motor Vehicle Act. A High Court Division Bench stayed the operation of the police order on 14 July, 2003.- Daily Star, 10 March.

Fraud case against DG of Manpower
A fraud case has filed against director general (DG) of Manpower, Employment and Training Bureau, Dhaka and 21 others with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court, Dhaka. After hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Moha-mmad Emdaul Haq took the petition into cognizance and directed the Officer-in-Charge of Motijheel Police Station to register it as a regular case upon the investigation. The complainant Mosammat Anwara Begum in her complaint stated her younger brother died in Saudi Arabia in road accident on 19 November 1994. Later, victim's family members were given TK 13 lakh as compensation and the court gave an order for distribution of the money among the heirs (including the complainant) of the victim in accordance with the Muslim Law. But the accused in connivance with others misappropriated her entire share of Tk 5 lakh. -Daily Star, 10 March.

Another contempt rule against IGP
The High Court has issued a rule upon the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and three other senior police officers to explain why contempt proceedings should not be drawn against them for ignoring the court order. The petitioner, a suspended sub-inspector, submitted that he was acquitted of corruption charge after departmental investigation. Despite that he was summoned to appear before the security cell in police headquarters in connection with the corruption charge. He had challenged the order in the High Court and secured a stay order. But he was again summoned ignoring the stay order. The bench comprising Justice M Abdul Matin and Justice Syed Refat Ahmed also stayed the order of suspension on the petitioner. Earlier on January 27, the High Court in a contempt case found the IGP guilty of misconduct and fined him Tk 2000. The Supreme Court had stayed execution of the High Court verdict. -Prothom Alo, 10 March.

Rapist executed in Comilla
Eight years after a seven-year-old girl was killed after raping at Bagdi village in Polash upazila of Narsingdi district, her parents got justice with the execution of the assailant. The death penalty on Abdul Motaleb was executed by hanging in Comilla Central Jail on 9 March midnight. According to the prosecution, Abdul Motaleb raped the minor girl, Nilufer, 5 on August 1995. She died from excessive bleeding at a hospital. Motaleb was awarded capital punishment under the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act on 28 April 1997. Later the verdict was upheld by higher court and also in the clemency prayer to the president. - New Age, 11 March.