Law
Week
Separation of judiciary Govt to seek 4 more months
The government will appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) for the 22nd time on February 1 to extend the deadline for separation of the judiciary by four more months, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, he said, "It's a practical problem to replace 600 administrative cadres by the same number of judicial magistrates, and we need some time to work it out." The SC on October 20 last year rejected the 21st appeal, expressing disgust at the government's doing 'nothing' to address the issue. A six-member full bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain, set February 1, 2006 as the date for hearing on two cases regarding separation of the judiciary. Of the cases, one deals with contempt charges against nine bureaucrats while the other one deals with a petition for bringing contempt proceedings against the government for not separating the judiciary as per the SC verdict. The law minister said he is hopeful that the government will succeed in separating the judiciary within the four-month time frame [if granted]. The Daily Star, January 30.
Bail cancellation Show cause notice issued against Barisal magistrate
A Barisal court issued a show cause notice to a magistrate and policeman for violating higher court order over bail cancellation. The District and Sessions Judge's Court also asked First Class Magistrate Gopal Chandra Das of Barisal Cognisance Court No. 1 and Assistant Sub-inspector Abdul Hamid to reply within February 2 why contempt charge would not be brought against them. In the order, Judge Md Shafiuddin said the two not only failed to execute the higher court order of bail cancellation but their attitudes are also objectionable, autocratic and against the interest of the public. They have to explain why legal and departmental actions should not be taken against them and why the matter should not to be forwarded to the Supreme Court for further action, the judge said. The Daily star, January 30.
Law on financial reporting by corporate bodies
Consultants have been selected to formulate the Financial Reporting Act and the Financial Reporting Council, an independent regulatory body, to regulate accounting practices in the corporate sector, World Bank officials said. "The regulatory capacity relating to financial reporting by regulated entities will be strengthened for three agencies -- Bangladesh Bank (BB), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Insurance Department," said a WB statement. Strengthening of the auditing and accounting practices in Bangladesh is one of the major components of the Economic Management and Technical Assistance Project (EMTAP) launched by WB in 2004. BD News, Dhaka, January 30.
Ramna blast accused recruited as police SI
An accused in the Ramna Batmul bomb blast case has been recruited as a sub-inspector (SI) of police and is scheduled to be sworn in next month. Mizanur Rahman Swadhin, an alleged militant and accused in the blast case, is receiving the six-month training at Sardah Police Academy in Rajshahi. He is likely to get posting after the ceremonial march past of police training completion scheduled to be held on February 22. He was arrested at a mosque's mess owned by Abdus Sabur at Matuail in Demra, Dhaka on April 14, 2001 in connection with the case. Swadhin, son of Abdul Hamid of Bhetchki village in Mathbaria upazila, Pirojpur, was a student of geography department at Suhrawardi College in Dhaka and an adherent of the college unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. A team of Detective Branch of police had visited his house along with him following allegations that his cousin Jasim was killed while hurling bombs at Ramna. The Daily Star, January 31.
Cabinet okays tele-tapping
The cabinet approved Bangladesh Telecommunications (Amendment) Act 2006, providing for control on the use of mobile phone as a measure to break crime networks. A meeting of the cabinet held in the conference room of the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the chair, gave the approval for amending the law with the phone-control provision. In the wake of violent crimes across the country, particularly serial bombings by Islamist militants, the government has taken the move to check such syndicated criminal acts. The president recently promulgated an ordinance with a provision for tapping phones to check "the misuse of mobile phone for committing criminal act". UNB, Dhaka, January 31.
ACC to file 45 graft cases in a week
The Anti-Corruption Commission will file charge sheets in 45 corruption cases within a week, ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan said amid criticism that the commission is not functioning effectively. "I would resign if I fail to make the commission effective and curb corruption," he told newsmen after a meeting of the ACC members and consultants with the finance minister, the Asian Development Bank and high government officials. Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman however observed the commission is not working and has not been effective at all. He said the commission could not help fight corruption as was expected. The minister told the meeting that he would talk to the prime minister soon to discuss all the issues relating to the commission and find solution to its problems to make it functional, meeting sources said. The Daily Star, January 31.
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