Law
week
Faisal's JMB link found in probe
Bangladesh-born British citizen Faisal Mostafa, now detained in Dhaka, has close links with banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, said investigators. He had met executed JMB supremo Shaekh Abdur Rahman several times, and kept in contact with Saidur Rahman, now-on-the-run boss of the militant organisation. On quite a few occasions, Saidur visited Faisal's Green Crescent madrasa-cum-orphanage at Ramkeshob village in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola, where the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) discovered a mini-munitions factory and seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives on March 26. -The Daily Star, April 14, 2009.
JS probe digs out more graft by Sircar
Former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar had appointed more than 300 employees to the Parliament Secretariat ignoring district quotas and purchased furniture worth Tk 12 lakh for his residence in a year ignoring rules. The all-party parliamentary probe body disclosed these cases of "misappropriation of money, anomalies and misuse of power" during its third meeting held at the Sangsad Bhaban. The probe committee revealed that Tk 17 lakh was spent to buy stationery items for the parliament in 2007-08 when it was inactive. Tk 30 lakh was also spent for lights, electrical work and gardening at the Sangsad Bhaban during the tenure of the former speaker. -The Daily Star, April 14, 2009.
Court will decide fate of Khaleda's house: Delwar
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the court would decide whether Khaleda Zia would have to give up her house in cantonment. “The government has no other way but to go to the court to resolve the issue,” Delwar told reporters at his residence adding “BNP will respect the court verdict in this regard.” The BNP leader also criticised Law Minister Shafique Ahmed for his comments on serving a notice to Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to leave the house in cantonment within a week. -The Daily Star, April 14, 2009.
ACC accused of contempt of JS
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings accused the immediate past chief of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), its incumbent acting chief, the other incumbent commissioner, and one of its former secretaries of contempt of the parliament. The parliamentary committee also questioned the legality of some of ACC's moves under the regime of the immediate past caretaker government over almost the last two years. Despite being summoned by the parliamentary committee to be present at a committee meeting, former ACC chief Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, incumbent Acting ACC Chairman M Habibur Rahman, incumbent Commissioner Abul Hasan Manzur Mannan, and former ACC secretary Delwar Hossain who is now the land secretary were absent from the meeting. -The Daily Star, April 13, 2009.
Sircar drew Tk 28 lakh illegally, finds JS probe
A parliamentary probe body has found that immediate past speaker Jamiruddin Sircar "illegally" drew Tk 27.86 lakh as medical bill. "After examining documents, the committee finds that Sircar unlawfully drew the amount of money," advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia told reporters after a meeting of the probe committee at the parliament building. "The probe body revealed that violating the law, the then speaker Jamiruddin Sircar drew Tk 27.86 lakh as medical bill without the then prime minister Khaleda Zia's consent and ignoring her opinion," Rabbi added.
-The Daily Star, April 13, 2009.
Govt decides to form jt working group with UK
The government decided in principle to form a Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter terrorism with the UK next month for exchanging information and training on counter-terrorism. The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting between Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, state ministers and high-ups of foreign and home ministries. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries during UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Security and Counter-terrorism) Lord West of Spithead's visit to Bangladesh next month, said government sources. Various issues including counter-terrorism, border security, money laundering, the funding of militant organisations, human and drug trafficking were also discussed at the meeting. -The Daily Star, April 13, 2009.
JS body may go for contempt move
The parliamentary committee on public undertakings sits today to decide the next course of action regarding the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) refusal to allow it to scrutinise the anti-graft body's activities. "If the anti-graft body does not appear before the committee, it will undermine parliament. Contempt of parliament proceedings might be initiated against them," committee Chairman Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir told The Daily Star. He said the committee itself might initiate the contempt proceedings or will report to the House for it. -The Daily Star, April 12, 2009.
Tobacco lure
Violating the Narcotics Control Act, 2005, a number of local tobacco companies are offering smokers on the outskirts of the capital and elsewhere in the country "gift items" as incentives to choose their products. Even though tobacco-product advertisement and offering incentives to tobacco consumers are prohibited under the law, the companies are offering items like cellphones, bicycles, household utensils and free cigarettes in exchange for empty cigarette packs or part of the packs. According to Clause-4 of the Narcotics Control Act, 2005, "No one is allowed to provide any gift, incentive, scholarship or hold any tournament with the aim to encourage the use of tobacco products." If anyone violates this law, he or she would be awarded three months' simple imprisonment or fined Tk 1,000, the law reads. -The Daily Star, April 12, 2009.
Strict enforcement of rules a must for safety
Strict enforcement of fire safety rules and compliance with Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) in construction of high-rise buildings must be ensured to protect them from fire, experts told a discussion. Speaking at the discussion, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan said the government will take action against 'errant practice' in building construction in the city. He was speaking at the discussion on Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings and Provisions of BNBC, organised by Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) with IEB Dhaka Centre Chairman Md Nurul Huda in the chair.
-The Daily Star, April 12, 2009.
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