Ban ends on journalists
A ban on journalists, covering the heated hearing of Dhaka-10
parliamentary by-poll case, was lifted on Monday, 31st May with an intervention
by Chief Justice Syed JR Modassir Husain. Following the intervention
of the chief justice, the journalists who had earlier protested such
ban, entered the court room of the Supreme Court to cover the full-court
bench hearing of the case which began Monday. Earlier on a Special Bench
of the Appellate Division banned newspersons from the hearing of the
petition filed by returning officer (RO) of the Dhaka-10 parliamentary
by-polls against the High Court order that stayed all election proceedings
in the constituency until 12 June.
- New Age,01 June.
Charge
sheet in Ctg arms haul case soon
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inquiring into the sensational
arms haul in Chittagong may have to submit its charge sheet in hurry
without delving into details due to legal process and time constraints.
The CID, Chittagong zone, in its recent report prayed to the additional
inspector general of the CID seeking more time to carry out a full-length
investigation before submitting charge sheet. But it was turned down
as per rigidity of law. For that the charge sheet in arms haul is to
be submitted by June 10 next, even though the full facts in the case
might not be unearthed by then and the perpetrators brought to justice.
- New Age, 0 June.
20
killed by law enforcers last month
Law enforcers killed as many as 20 people across the country last month.
This was revealed by a report of Odhikar, a coalition for human rights.
In its report Odhikar said that nine people were killed in police custody
during the time. It said five journalists were injured and two others
assaulted in May while 19 others were threatened and six others implicated
in cases. The report also said that political violence left 48 killed
and 200 injured. Police arrested 47 for their alleged implication in
the violence. The Odhikar report said 101 children were tortured in
May. Of them, 33 were killed, 21 raped, 17 abducted and 10 went missing,
eight smuggled out, four suffered acid burns, and five committed suicide.
As many as 62 women were raped last month and of them four were killed
after rape while two others committed suicide. At least 18 women were
reportedly victimised for dowry and of them 15 were killed while two
others were tortured and one abducted, the report mentioned. The report
also revealed that at least 31 people received acid burns in the month
of May 2004.
- Daily Star, 02 June.
By-polls
of Dhaka-10 stayed
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, 2nd June has rejected the petition
the Election Commission filed against the High Court (HC) stay order
on Dhaka-10 parliamentary by-polls, ending the prospect of June 6 election
to the seat. The Supreme Court full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed
JR Modassir Husain upheld the stay order on the high-profile election
symbol dispute after three days of hearing. The bench directed both
parties to move to the High Court which will now hold a hearing on June
12 on its rule upon the Election Commission and the returning officer
(RO).
-Daily Star, 03 June.
Legal
notice on govt against troops to Iraq
A "demand of justice notice" has been issued on the
government asking it not to enter into any contract with the United
States on sending Bangladeshi troops to Iraq without any UN resolution
and approval of the Jatiya Sangsad. The legal notice, served upon defence
secretary, foreign secretary, cabinet secretary and principal secretary
to the Prime Minister, came ahead of Saturday's arrival of US defence
secretary Donald Rumsfeld on his first visit to Bangladesh reportedly
to discuss the contentious troop issue. Bangladesh has so far refused
to send its peacekeeping troops to Iraq without UN sanction. Advocate
Asaduzzaman issued the notice on behalf of Farhad Mazhar and Farida
Akhter of UBINIG. "Any such step will be a clear violation of the
Constitution, the Army Act 1952 and the UN Charter," said the notice
asking the government to reply to the notice within three days. Bangladesh
so far refused to send its peacekeeping troops to troubled Iraq without
UN sanction.
-New Age, 04 June.
SP
arrested for offering bribe
A special superintendent of police (SP)) has been arrested
for offering bribe to State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar. Muhammad
Abdul Baten, special SP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
of police, offered to bribe the minister to have an order for his transfer
to Khagrachhari cancelled. But The accused has refuted the allegation
of bribing and told that it was a conspiracy against him. Police said
SP Baten, who received the transfer order just two days ago, entered
Babar's office at the Secretariat on the plea of having a talk with
him. He then put a packet containing money on the table, requested Babar
to accept it and cancel his transfer order. He also told the minister
that he wanted to remain posted in Dhaka since he is due to retire in
about 16 months' time.
-Daily Star, 04 June.
