Law
week
Govt eyes consensus on constitution review
The government is trying to build a political consensus to form a "constitutional review commission" but will leave its recommendations to be implemented by the elected government, said Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday. - The Daily Star, June 05, 2008.
Arrest figure crosses 10,000
The joint forces arrested 1,729 persons including 97 in the capital in the 24 hours preceding 8:00am yesterday, in the ongoing nationwide special anti-crime drive that had begun on May 28. - The Daily Star, June 04, 2008.
Attorney department formed to move cases for state
The caretaker government has set up a new institution named Government Attorney Department for dealing with cases in courts and performing other duties on behalf of the state. - The Daily Star, June 04, 2008.
Lack of bonding between parents, children leads to violations child rights
Poverty prevents children from enjoying their rights, but their rights are violated most when there is lack of bonding between parents and children, Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said at a view exchange meeting yesterday. - The Daily Star, June 04, 2008.
Hasina calls for halt to mass arrests
Detained former premier Sheikh Hasina yesterday put out a call to the government to immediately stop the ongoing 'mass arrests', and to work for making the ongoing politico-electoral dialogues and announced elections successful instead. -The Daily Star, June 03, 2008.
Falu gets 5yrs for gobbling up relief
A special court yesterday handed down five years' rigorous imprisonment on Mosaddek Ali Falu, detained former BNP lawmaker and political secretary to former premier Khaleda Zia, for misappropriating relief materials. Judge Tanzina Ismail of the Special Court-6, set up on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, also fined Falu Tk 5.35 lakh. He will have to serve one more year behind bars if he failed to pay the fine. -The Daily Star, June03, 2008.
Khaleda hits out at govt
In her first appearance at the court since her arrest, former premier Khaleda Zia yesterday demanded withdrawal the state of emergency by June and general elections by October this year. - The Daily Star, June 02, 2008.
Hasina's graft case trial to continue
The High Court (HC) yesterday rejected a writ petition filed by detained former premier Sheikh Hasina challenging the legality of continuing the trial proceedings of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against her. - The Daily Star, June 02, 2008.
3,000 appeals filed with Election Commission
Near about 3,000 appeals have been filed with the Election Commission (EC) till yesterday, the last day for the filing of appeals against re-demarcation of 51 parliamentary constituencies. This is by far the largest number of such appeals filed by leaders of various political parties following the EC's move to re-demarcate 133 constituencies before the next parliamentary elections. The latest re-demarcation plan of the EC was unveiled on April 29 this year amid growing opposition from major political parties that maintain that the move will create obstacles to holding the upcoming ninth parliamentary polls by the yearend, as announced in the electoral roadmap. - The Daily Star, June 02, 2008.
New CJ takes oath
Justice MM Ruhul Amin yesterday took oath as the 16th chief justice of Bangladesh. President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath at Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at around 10:30am yesterday. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) members did not accord felicitation to him, protesting some recent judgments by the apex court. Earlier, the SCBA did not give farewell to his predecessor justice Md Ruhul Amin on his last day in office on May 29 for the same reason. - The Daily Star, June 02, 2008.
Public servants, judicial commission (amend) ordinance approved
The council of advisers yesterday approved the Public Servants (Dismissal on Conviction) (Amendment) Ordinance 2008. In the new ordinance, which took effect from yesterday, the duration of imprisonment has been extended to over one year while the amount for penalty over Tk 10,000 for the dismissal of a public servant from services. - The Daily Star, June 02, 2008.
Deputy attorney general resigns
Deputy Attorney General Md Anwarul Azim Khair, who was appointed by the previous BNP-led four-party-alliance government, resigned from his post yesterday. -The Daily Star, June02, 2008
Jails desperate for doctors
As doctors are unwilling to work in jails, the Directorate of Prisons proposed the government to allow appointment of all doctors in jails on deputation basis and with special facilities. The existing laws allow jail authorities to appoint 50 percent doctors directly while the rest are appointed through deputation from the health ministry. The Directorate of Prisons also proposed the government to change some regulations regarding doctors' appointments in jails. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health initiated treatment of sick prisoners once a week. Doctors from medical college hospitals would treat the prisoners. Where there is no medical college hospital, the district civil surgeon would form a team for the purpose. -The Daily Star, June01, 2008.
Over 100 countries agree to ban cluster bombs
A landmark international convention banning cluster munitions was formally adopted by some 111 countries here Friday, in a move supporters hope will stigmatize the lethal weapons as much as landmines. The treaty requires the destruction of stockpiled munitions within eight years -- though it leaves the door open for future, more precise generations of cluster bombs that pose less harm to civilians. The convention is due to be signed in Oslo on December 2-3. States then have to ratify the pact. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed it as "a new international standard that will enhance the protection of civilians, strengthen human rights and improve prospects for development." - The Daily Star, May 31, 2008.
World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the world focusing on stopping tobacco use especially among the youths. With a view to raising mass awareness about harmful effects of tobacco, different organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes including rallies, seminars and discussions to mark the World No Tobacco Day 2008 with the theme 'Tobacco Free Youth' among them Manash, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, Pratyasha, Bangladesh Cancer Society, Insititution of fine & arts of Dhaka University, were there. -The Daily Star, May31, 2008.
Charge sheet against Huji cadres Abu Zandal Gharami
A Satkhira court yesterday framed charges against Zandal and Gharami, operatives of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji), for possession of 44 grenades. - The Daily Star, May 30, 2008.
Law ministry to sponsor TAC
The government yesterday decided in principle that the Law Ministry would sponsor the Truth and Accountability Commission. The commission is poised to start soon the exoneration proceedings for those who would voluntarily unveil their illegally amassed wealth. The public works ministry would provide logistic support and manpower would be recruited by the establishment ministry in the formation process of the truth commission. ACC Director General (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said that, the commission will not perform under any institution like the court or ministry, but the law ministry will sponsor it. - The Daily Star, May 30, 2008.
Hearing for framing charges against Khaleda, Koko June 4
The hearing on charge framing in the Gatco graft case against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and 22 others will begin on June 4. -The Daily Star, May 30,2008.
6 Bangladeshis acquitted of murder charge
Oman on Wednesday declared that its primary court had acquitted Mohammed Momin Miah and five other Bangladeshis held in that country on charges of murder.-The Daily Star, June 06,2008.
Ex-addl police super sued for murder
Former additional police super of Khulna Mofazzel Hossain and nine others have been sued for murder. .-The Daily Star, June 06,2008.
Corresponding with the Law Desk
Please send your mails, queries, and opinions to: Law Desk, The Daily Star 19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215; telephone 8124944,8124955,fax 8125155; email: dslawdesk@yahoo.co.uk,lawdesk@thedailystar.net
