Judicial
Independence
SC asks for names behind the distortion of draft rules
Lawyer for the government officials facing contempt charges for distorting
the Supreme Court (SC) orders concerning the independence of the judiciary
told the court.
The
resolution had suggested changes in the Supreme Court's proposed new
draft rules regarding the service of judicial officers, which the court
had considered necessary to ensure independence of the judiciary. It
was this resolution that had been the subject of the contempt proceedings
against the government officials.
Advocate
TH Khan, the counsel for the seven officials, told the court that immediately
after it had rebuked the officials, seven of the nine officials from
the establishment and finance ministries held a meeting and decided
that their resolution of November 1 stood cancelled. He also told the
court that the rules, without the contentious resolution, had now been
sent to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the president's approval.
The
court however was not satisfied and asked the bureaucrats to inform
it of the names of those responsible for ordering that such a resolution
should be passed on November 1 in the first place. The full court of
the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice
Syed JR Mudassir Husain directed TH Khan to submit the names through
an affidavit.The nine government officials appeared in person at court
and sought an unconditional apology. The
Daily Star, December 13.
Govt orders why law on women's JS seats not illegal
The High Court (HC) asked the government to explain in two weeks why
the law providing for election to women's reserved seats in parliament
should not be declared unconstitutional. Issuing the rule upon a writ
petition filed by 13 women leaders challenging the process of distribution
of 45 reserved seats for women among the parties in parliament, the
court kept 'stand over' the plea for stay of operation of the law passed
by parliament last month. Moving the petition, Dr M Zahir pointed to
the provision of the law that says none could contest without being
a member of political party or alliance. This negates the constitution
that guarantees any eligible voter could contest elections.
It
is prejudicial for women community, which has been fighting for direct
election to the reserved seats. Advocate Sigma Huda, one of the petitioners,
pressed for stay of operation of the law. UNB,
December 15.
Ashraful
Huda new IGP and IGP Shahudul removed
The government appointed Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner
Ashraful Huda as the new inspector general of police (IGP). Ashraful
replaced Shahudul Haque, whom the government had removed from service
with effect from December 7, the day he was convicted for contempt of
court by the Supreme Court. Ashraful has been appointed on contract,
which will expire in April next year.
BSS
quoting an establishment ministry notification said the president has
exempted Shahudul Haque from the purview of Section 3 of Public Servants
(Dismissal on Conviction) Ordinance, 1985. The High Court convicted
Shahudul following a suo moto (contempt) rule on January 27, this year,
which was later upheld by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court
on December 7.
The
government removed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahudul Haque
from office after his conviction for contempt of court.
Shahudul,
who flew in Dhaka from France after a weeklong overseas trip, was told
at Zia International Airport not to go to his office, sources said.
No flag car went to receive him at the airport and he was provided with
no protocol. A police car drove him to his government house at Minto
Road. Officials at the home ministry said Shahudul was handed a law
ministry notification that said he stood dismissed from the day of his
conviction. He later tried to meet State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman
Babar, but was refused a meeting, the sources added. Prothom
Alo, December 16.
Rab
to get devices to tap telephones
The government is buying the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) cellular and
land phone interceptors to enable the elite anticrime force to listen
in on telephone conversations in a blatant violation of the existing
law. Highly placed sources said as part of a plan to upgrade the force.
The
mobile phone interceptor, which will be installed at the Rab Headquarters,
can store as many as 1,000 target-based phone numbers and is capable
of recording conversations of 120 cellular phones at a time. Sources
said two leading intelligence agencies in Bangladesh have long been
covertly using such interceptors. Britain also amended the relevant
law after the 9/11. "We are unable to track criminals before and
after any violence because of a lack of such equipment," said another
high official of the home ministry. The device will also be capable
of intercepting calls from abroad. The
Daily Star, December 16.
ACC
staff selection gets delayed over legal tangle
Unfinished legal formalities are delaying staff selection for the Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC). At the end of the last week, it was found that the
two committees formed to screen employees of the now-defunct Bureau
of Anti-Corruption (Bac) are not legally mandated to select staff members
for the ACC, sources said.
The
ACC had hurriedly formed the committees without looking into the legal
aspects, the sources added. The committees were to submit reports to
the commission by December 12, but they failed to do so because of the
legal barriers.
Referring
to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, an official said the ACC will
have to formulate a rule under which these committees will screen the
Bac employees. The rule will need the president's approval for enforcement.
The Daily Star, December 16
Unabated
deer poaching in the Sundarbans
Deer poaching in Sundarbans,
the world's largest mangrove forest, is going on unabated, violating
law. A large number of spotted deer were killed in the last two months,
sources said. On December 11, a team of officials from Kobadak Forest
Station recovered a slaughtered deer from a boat in Palkati area of
the forest. On December 10, local people caught two alleged deer poachers
--Samir Gazi and Shahbaz-- from Parshemari ferry terminal area in Shyamnagar
along with three slaughtered deer. They were handed over to Forest Officer.
Local
people later alleged that the forest officials released the poachers
along with their prey after taking bribe. The incident created resentment
in the area. The Daily star, December 16.
Daughters
to get equal property rights in India
India's cabinet has approved proposed legislation to give daughters
the same rights as sons to inherit ancestral property. The legislation,
long sought by women's rights groups, would amend the 1956 Hindu Succession
Act. It must be approved by parliament before it becomes law. At present
daughters and sons have equal rights in the case of property bought
by their father but not in the case of property inherited by their father.
The cabinet gave its nod to the legislation on December 15th. AFP,New
Delhi, December 17.
