SC
Bar joins CJ's court boycotts get together programme
The
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) started joining the Chief Justice's
(CJ) court but boycotted a post-vacation get together of judges and
lawyers in protest against the presence of 19 newly appointed judges
at the function. Pro-government lawyers however joined the get together
held at the Judges' Lounge in the Supreme Court building.
The SCBA earlier postponed its court boycott programme until Eid vacation
following the CJ's assurance of settling the debated issue of the judges'
appointment but decided to abstain from joining the get together if
the new judges were present there. SCBA President Rokanuddin Mahmud
said the new judges should not be given any task at the moment. Since
question has been raised about their efficiency and ability. The
Daily Star, October 25.
Barisal
ward commissioner killed by RAB
A city corporation ward commissioner named Mehedi, also an
alleged criminal, was killed in a gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion
in the Barisal city. Two Rab members were also injured in the encounter
with the group led by Mehedi, also secretary of the Barisal city unit
of the ruling BNP-backed Juba Dal. The battalion also seized four firearms
- a sub-machine gun, a shotgun, a pipe-gun and a pistol and a large
cache of ammunition from the house of Mehedi after the fight.
Sources
in Rab said the gunfight took place when they raided the Alekanda house
of Mehedi, ringleader of Mehedi Bahini. Mehedi and his associates opened
fire from inside.The death of Mehedi was the 38th in the custody of
Rab or in encounter since the force began its formal operation in June.
The daily Ittefaq, October 26.
Writ
petition challenging RAB activities
A writ petition was filed in the High Court challenging the
formation of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and seeking
an injunction against the activities of the force. Two senior Supreme
Court lawyers filed the petition terming the law leading to the formation
of the force contradictory to the constitution. The petition, filed
after six months of the launch of Rab, is likely to be heard on October
30, at a High Court Division bench.
The
writ petition was filed in the wake of criticism against the activities
of RAB. Different human rights groups have accused the force of violations
of the constitution, laws to deal with crimes and human rights through
extra-judicial killings in custody and 'crossfire.' The main opposition
Awami League has also demanded disbandment of the force, terming it
a 'killing force'. The petition claimed that the formation of Rab by
amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979 is contradictory
to the constitution and so, all activities of the force are illegal.
Prothom Alo, October 26.
HC
orders govt to give list on mass arrest
The High Court has asked the government to submit a report
by November 23 detailing names and particulars of the people arrested
between September 22 and October 3 this year under section 86 of the
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance. A High Court bench of Justice MA
Matin and Justice AFM Abdur Rahman also fixed November 24 for further
hearing of the writ petition that challenged the mass arrests in April
and September, following which the court issued an injunction on the
arrests. The injunction order, issued by the High Court Division and
modified by the Appellate Division, however, will continue till the
disposal of the petition, the court said. A vacation bench of the High
Court on September 29 issued the injunction on the mass arrest drive
in the capital that began on September 22. Bhorer
Kagaj, OCtober 28.
Hazari
jailed for 7 years
A court sentenced former Awami League (AL) lawmaker Joynal
Abedin Hazari of Feni to seven years jail for illegally possessing a
foreign-made pistol. Judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Hasan Imam handed
down the verdict in a crowded courtroom amid tight security. Hazari
has been absconding since a joint team of police and BDR (Bangladesh
Rifles) recovered arms and ammunition from his residence at Mastarpara
in Feni on August 17, 2001. According to the prosecution, Hazari possessed
a Spanish pistol despite cancelling its licence and the firearm was
recovered by the law enforcers from his residence during the drive.
BSS, October 28.
False
LLB certificate of HC Justice
A High Court Justice's LLB certificate has been discovered as false
sources said. The mentioned justice is one of the 19 controversial justices
of the High Court Division who were appointed on 23rd August by the
Government.
According to an
investigation it is found that Justice Faisal Mahmud Fayejee took part
in the preliminary and final exam of LLB from Chittagong Law College
that was held in 1989 under Chittagong University. His actual number
in Muslim Law paper had been changed in tabulation sheet. In 1996 an
inquiry committee was formed to investigate the malpractice of some
corrupted officials of controller office of Chittagong University. The
investigation report allegedly charged the Roll no. 3652 for counterfeiting
the mark sheet of 1989 LLB exam and that roll no. belongs to justice
Fayejee.
The
then Chancellor of Chittagong University Professor Abdul Mannan said
that all result had been cancelled based on the investigation report
who were related on counterfeiting the mark sheet. Apparently Anti-Corruption
Department filed 2 cases against those corrupted officials, that are
pending in Chittagong court. Prothom
Alo, October 30.
