Law
week
NHRC team to visit hospitals to monitor services
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will make sudden visit to government health complexes across the country to monitor the health service for the poor people. “If the people are found deprived of health service at government health centres, we will take immediate step against the persons responsible,” said NHRC chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman. The chairman also said the commission might recommend suspension of the staff for the negligence in carrying out duty. He mentioned that the drive is likely to begin from next week. NHRC chairman made the announcement in a press briefing at his office following a courtesy call he made on President Zillur Rahman along with a seven member delegation. He also mentioned that the president has instructed the commission to look into the issue. -The Daily Star, September 15, 2010.
Warrants issued to arrest 2 QC brothers
A Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against two brothers of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury in connection with a case over bouncing cheque. Metropolitan Magistrate Konika Bishwas passed the order, as Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and Saifuddin Quader Chowdhury, the accused, did not appear before it as per the court order. The issuance followed the complainant's lawyer Dewan Abdur Rahim's submission of a prayer which sought an arrest warrant against all three accused. Dewan in the prayer said the accused did not comply with the order even though summonses were duly served to them on September 9. The court also directed the officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station to submit a report on implementation of the arrest warrants by January 3, 2011. -The Daily Star, September 15, 2010.
HC pulls for environment
The High Court has declared illegal the construction of ship breaking yards at costal green belts of Sonaichhari in Chittagong as they “cause environmental degradation and damage to human lives”. The court has also declared illegal the government action to lease out the reserve forestland to four private companies for setting up of ship breaking yards. The deputy commissioner of Chittagong leased out the land to F&F Shipping Recycling, MS Tania Enterprise, Mabia Enterprise and Unique Traders in October 2008. None of them obtained clearance certificate from the forest department before they began the construction of the yards, prosecution lawyers said. An HC bench of Justice Md Imman Ali and Justice Md Abu Tariq delivered the verdict saying the government cannot lease out reserve forest area for constructing shipyards that cause environmental damage. -The Daily Star, September 14, 2010.
Post of tax ombudsman set to go
The government approved the draft of the 2010 Tax Ombudsman (Abolition) Bill to scrap the Tax Ombudsman Act, 2005. The decision came at a weekly cabinet meeting at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The four-year tenure of the first tax ombudsman expired on July 8, and Finance Minister AMA Muhith the same day announced that the government would abolish the post of tax ombudsman. Abul Kalam Azad, prime minister's press secretary, told newsmen after the meeting that the government took the decision since the 2005 act was found to be conflicting with the rules and laws of the taxes and import duties. The BNP-led government set up the tax ombudsman's office in July 2005 under the Tax Ombudsman Act and Khairuzzaman Chowdhury was appointed by the then president as the tax ombudsman on July 9, 2006 for a four-year term. -The Daily Star, September 14, 2010.
War crimes probe lacks coordination
Finance Minister AMA Muhith admitted the lack of coordination between prosecutors and investigators in the trial of war crimes. The war crimes investigation agency will have its chief appointed soon so that it can carry out probe for the trial smoothly, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting on war crimes trial at his office. Abdul Matin, the previous chief of the agency, resigned on May 5 amid controversy over his appointment and alleged affiliation with Islami Chhatra Sangha which was a student wing of anti-liberation force Jamaat-e-Islami until 1971. The finance minister said the chief investigator will have the status of an additional inspector general. A steering committee comprised of officials of the home, law and foreign affairs ministries will also be formed to monitor the trial process. -The Daily Star, September 9, 2010.
Two-thirds of Internet users hit by cyber crime: Norton
Computer security firm Symantec reported that about two thirds of the world's Internet users have fallen victim to cyber crime and few think crooks will be caught. China was tops when it came to online victims, with 83 percent of Internet users there having been hit by computer viruses, identity theft, online credit card fraud or other crimes, according to a Norton Cyber crime Report. Brazil and India were tied for second place with 76 percent, while the United States was next in line with 73 percent. While victims admitted to feeling furious and cheated, they were reluctant to take action because they felt efforts would be futile, according to a study by Symantec consumer division Norton. Reporting cyber crime is critical, because some times larger patterns can be pieced together by police fielding reports that, individually, appear minor. -The Daily Star, September 9, 2010.
Stalking victim kills herself
A schoolgirl in Satkhira killed herself by taking poison reportedly after failing to bear the brunt of stalking. In Chapainawabganj a man was beaten to death by stalkers as he protested teasing of his colleague's wife and daughter. The deceased girl, Chameli Khatun, 14, daughter of Shafiqul Islam of Manderbaria village at Koira upazila, Khulna, was residing at her maternal uncle's house here at Rajarbagan, reports our Satkhira correspondent. She was a student of Pallimongal High School in Satkhira town. Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shah Jahan Khan quoted locals saying Sumon, a student of Satkhira Government College, had been stalking the girl on her way to school for the last four months. Chameli went to Zia Hall of Satkhira Government College and took poison around 4:00pm. However, it is still unknown why she went there. Local people and students took her to sadar hospital where she died around 5:30pm. Soon after the incident, Sumon went into hiding. -The Daily Star, September 8, 2010.
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