Law
Week
Bribery, political consideration
Selection of 757 cops to be cancelled
The police authorities will cancel the selection of 757 sub-inspectors (SIs) and sergeants recruited through gross irregularities including bribery, political influence and nepotism in the last days of the immediate past BNP-led four-party rule. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad told The Daily Star, confirming the decision taken in the light of the findings of a recent probe. Though the result was published last October, the authorities did not hand the new recruits appointment letters or start their training. They will soon issue a circular for fresh recruitment to the posts--496 male SIs, 41 female SIs and 220 sergeants. "We'll complete the recruitment in two or three months," said the IGP. Meantime, several police officers have called for the caretaker government to free the police administration of those who were appointed on political consideration and through underhand dealings. They observed that rampant politicisation through appointments, promotions and postings during the five years of the coalition government has weakened the police administration. -The Daily Star, February 11.
Judiciary finally separated
The president promulgated Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 completing the legal process of separating the judiciary from the executive. "President Iajuddin Ahmed has approved the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 for separation of the judiciary," said a communiqué from Bangabhaban. Attorney General barrister Fida M Kamal told UNB over cellphone that he would submit the Ordinance before the full hierarchy of the Supreme Court to meet the latest deadline. The long-awaited ordinance to amend the century-old Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for separating the magistracy from the executive control was earlier endorsed by the council of advisors of the caretaker government. Now, the promulgation of the ordinance completed the entire process of separating the judiciary from the executive in compliance with the Supreme Court edicts given seven years ago. Earlier, the present caretaker government had issued four rules relating to the Judicial Service Commission and its regulating mechanisms as per the Supreme Court directives in the landmark judgment in the Masdar Hossain case. Since the delivery of judgment for separating the judiciary from the executive by the Supreme Court in December 1999, none of the successive governments fulfilled the constitutional mandate. Rather, the past governments delayed the process by extending the time repeatedly on different excuses. -Unb, Dhaka, February 12.
AL scraps fatwa deal with bigots
Awami League (AL) cancelled the controversial five-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over issuance of fatwas with Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM). AL also cancelled all deals, agreements and seat sharing with different political parties in the grand alliance including 14-party coalition, which had been made prior to the cancellation of January 22 parliamentary polls. "We had made some deals and agreements with some parties as part of our election strategy centring the January 22 poll. Since the election was cancelled, those deals and agreements have automatically been cancelled," AL Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil signed the MoU going to the Azimpur residence of BKM Chairman Azizul Haque on December 23 last year, which stipulated that certified alems (Islamic clerics) would have the authority to issue fatwas in the country if the grand electoral alliance could come to power. The other points of the MoU included promises to impose a bar on enacting any law that would go against Quranic values, initiation of steps for proper implementation of the government initiative to recognise the degrees awarded by Qaumi Madrasas, and a ban on criticisms of Prophet Muhammad. -The Daily Star, February 13.
8th Parliament
Quorum crisis costs country Tk 20cr
Around Tk 20 crore went down the drain as members of the 8th parliament did not attend the sessions in time leading to quorum crisis while the House failed to resolve audit objections involving over Tk 12,500 crore. The findings came out in a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) research into the activities of the 8th Jatiya Sangsad. Of Tk 13,154 crore audit objections concerning 15 ministries, the communications ministry alone had Tk 12,775 crore. The Public Accounts Committee (Pac) could realise only Tk 12 crore from it and left the rest for the government to deal with. TIB Research Officer Tanvir Mahmud published the findings at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday. Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, chairman of TIB board of trustees, spoke on the research outcome. Throughout the tenure, the assembly had no sincere discussion on corruption, power crisis and terrorism. They were rather busy playing party politics in unscheduled discussions, the study noted. The sittings began on time only for nine occasions in the last five years. Out of a total of 373 working days, the prime minister and leader of the opposition did not show up for 178 and 328 days respectively. The opposition stayed away from the House proceedings for 223 days. -The Daily Star, February 13.
Corrupt politicians, civil servants, magnates--none will be spared
Army chief Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed said the armed forces are assisting the government in its crusade against corruption that has eaten up the vitals of the nation. Addressing a cross section of people at Borguna Circuit House, he made it clear that the civil government is ruling the country. "No martial law exists. The president has declared emergency under a compelling situation." "The armed forces are only assisting the civil administration...we all in the civil administration and the army is carrying out our respective responsibility," he added. About corruption that had bedeviled the nation, the army chief said, "Corruption had engulfed every sphere of life. This cannot be allowed to continue. Number of corrupt elements is not many but 95 percent of the country's population suffered from the pangs caused by corruption." Lashing at dishonest politicians without naming anyone Gen Moeen said, "It is not possible to count by calculator the enormous wealth they have accumulated. Their irresistible lust for wealth led them to gobble up the CI sheets allotted by the government for distribution as relief among the poor." -Unb, Dhaka, February 14.
Brig Sakhawat made election commissioner
Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain was appointed as an election commissioner. President Iajuddin Ahmed made the appointment completing reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) as the caretaker government had said the new commission would comprise three members. The president on February 4 appointed former bureaucrat ATM Shamsul Huda as the chief election commissioner (CEC), and Sohul Hossain as an election commissioner. With the former military bureaucrat's swearing into the office, the EC for the first time in its history will get a member with military background. Meanwhile, CEC ATM Shamsul Huda and Election Commissioner Sohul Hossain met Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office. The CEC and the election commissioner informed the chief adviser (CA) that they are preparing a set of proposals for reforms in the electoral system, which will take a few more days to be completed, according to sources. Sources in the EC Secretariat said the commission will propose to make political parties' registration mandatory and to increase the ceiling on election expenditure in an effort to thwart the influence of black money on polls. -The Daily Star, February 14.
UNDP pledges support in political reform
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assured the caretaker government of all-possible support to carry out its political and economic reforms. UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Renata Lok Dessallien gave the assurance when she paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office. "We can assist Bangladesh in many ways and we're supportive of the present government," the UNDP official said. She said people's mammoth support and expectations have given the government a unique opportunity to give democracy a strong footing and carry out reforms. "Such opportunity does not come always," she added. Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said the caretaker government is accountable to the people and press is free despite state of emergency. "We're accountable in many ways," he told the UNDP representative. He said the caretaker government is working to fulfill people's expectations as much as possible through identifying the high priority tasks on short-term basis and also taking long-term initiatives to be implemented by the next government. -Unb, Dhaka, February 14.
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