Law & Our Rights
LAW OPINION / The hegemonic Western world order in crisis in Gaza
Few postwar world order crises have solicited world attention and concern as alarmingly as has the ongoing genocidal mass killings and wanton devastation in Gaza by Israel.
LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT / Exploring legal realism and legal formalism for the Rana Plaza judgment
During a recent visit to Bangladesh, I conducted interviews for a specific purpose. One case of interest was the prolonged legal proceedings surrounding the Rana Plaza tragedy, which began on 24 April 2013. While the Apex court recently instructed the trial court to expedite proceedings and deliver a judgment within six months, only 69 out of 594 witnesses have been examined as of March 2024, raising concerns about the efficiency of the justice system.
LAW OPINION / The principle of comity of courts and child welfare in custody disputes
The principle of comity of courts is closely connected with the effective and efficient administration of justice throughout the world.
Tax Act and the Anti-Corruption Commission
After the new Income Tax Act 2023 (the Act) was passed, a debate arose as to whether the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) powers were curtailed by the said law. In this piece I argue that the new law did not curtail the powers of ACC. The argument will get clearer as we look into the provisions of the Act in this regard.
Progressive Legal Development on Abortion
With the Supreme Court of Mexico decriminalising abortion nationwide on 6 September 2023, Latin America continues to spearhead the movement for liberalising abortion laws. Each country in Latin America has different enforcement mechanisms for abortion laws. Some countries have allowed abortion only under certain circumstances e.g., in case of rape or when there is a health risk to the mother while some allow abortion up until a certain term of pregnancy; with a few banning it under all circumstances.
How South Africa is challenging Israel at the ICJ: A case of obligation to prevent genocide
Most recently, South Africa has instituted proceedings in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, accusing it of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in relation to its military operations against the Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Our Rights to Assemble and Protest
Public assemblies play a crucial role in holding the authorities accountable and to voice demands on issues that matter.
Rethinking Affirmative Actions in Bangladesh
The concept of affirmative action, also known as positive discrimination encompasses a range of policies and practices implemented by the government or other organisations to address the inadequate representation of specific groups of people.
Feasibility of Data Protection under the Copyright Act 2023: A New Approach?
In order to get intellectual property (IP) protection, a product ought to be a creation of mind. In this regard, at times, a product must also fulfil other criteria, such as novelty, utility, originality etc based on the kind or manner of IP protection.
Notable Decisions of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
In view of the end of 2023, the write-up compiles certain landmark decisions that were handed down by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh last year.
Analysing the Universal Pension Management Act 2023
Social safety net programmes to protect the vulnerable population are not a new concept. However, in the context of Bangladesh, the Universal Pension Management Act 2023 is quite a novel (and laudable) initiative. In this write-up, we will focus on the important aspects of the Act as well as compare it with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) multi-tier pension model.
Looking Back at the Laws enacted in 2023
2023 was a year filled with new legislation. A total of 50 new laws were enacted by the parliament on a wide range of areas. Law making in 2023 was by and large characterised by a reform spirit (i.e., reforming old laws), devising welfare schemes, and defining new offences. Few notable ones are discussed in this piece.
The Problem with Noise Pollution and our Laws
In 2022, one of the most concerning impacts of noise pollution was witnessed when a four-month-old child succumbed to death amid excessive noise of fireworks during new year-eve celebrations.
