Law
week
List Dhaka canal grabbers in month
A parliamentary committee gave one more month to the Department of Land Record and Survey to come up with an accurate elaborate list of individuals and organisations who encroached upon 43 canals in the capital. It also asked the land ministry to complete within the next two months, the task of freeing the rivers in and around the capital from encroachment, and to restore their navigability. The previous deadline for submitting the list was August 8, which had been set at a committee meeting on July 8 this year. -The Daily Star, Sept 03, 2009.
Extended primary education to be free
The National Education Policy Formulation Committee has suggested extension of free primary education up to class VIII and secondary education up to class XII. The committee submitted its final report on National Education Policy 2009 seeking to educate all irrespective of their religion, gender, socio-economic condition and geographical location. Even indigenous people and physically disabled children will be brought under the programme, the new education policy said. The policy also recommends modernisation of Madrasa education, uniform curriculum in primary and secondary levels for students of all mediums and formation of a permanent education commission. -The Daily Star, Sept 03, 2009.
Matin sued for Tk 25cr compensation
A Tk 25 crore damage suit was filed with a Dhaka court against former shipping adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, a former shipping secretary, and Chittagong Port Authority (CPA). The former secretary, Sheikh AK Motahar Hossain, is now a member of the Privatisation Commission. Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, a businessman, filed the suit with the First Joint District Judge's Court of Dhaka, claiming Tk 25 crore in compensation. Judge KM Imrul Kayes asked the defendants appear before the court on October 14 with their written statements. -The Daily Star, Sept 02, 2009.
Army Act not applicable, says Dr Kamal
Amici curiae Dr Kamal Hossain and Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam said the offences committed during the BDR mutiny cannot be tried under the military law since this law is not applicable to BDR personnel. Section 2 of the Bangladesh Army Act 1952 defines who are subject to the act and "BDR personnel do not fall within the definition", Kamal told the Supreme Court. Barrister Amir said a combined law should be enacted to try the BDR mutineers as different offences including killing, looting and torture took place during the February 25-26 carnage at the Pilkhana headquarters. -The Daily Star, Sept 02, 2009.
Special drives leave a lot to be desired
Special drives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) along with the communications ministry's 'coordinating' move to curb traffic jam in the capital, produced nothing tangible yet for frustrated commuters. Official sources said there is no coordination between BRTA and DMP, although officially the agencies are working together for ensuring smooth traffic in the capital and for banishing old and unfit vehicles from the roads. -The Daily Star, Sept 01, 2009.
IGP suggests spl policing in southwest
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad spelt out 'special policing' in outlaw-infested southwestern region to maintain law and order. "The deterioration of law and order in the southwestern region is nothing new as it has been going on like this since long. So, it is difficult to control the situation without special policing," the IGP told reporters at a press briefing after a meeting on law and order situation with the high-ups in the police. -The Daily Star, Sept 01, 2009.
Govt escaped legal disaster
Sending of two district judges into forced retirement was illegal as the government took the disciplinary action against them without consulting with the Supreme Court, according to several verdicts of the Appellate Division. In a surprise move on July 30, the government sent Abdul Gafur, district and sessions judge in Dhaka, and Mohammad Shahjahan, women and children repression prevention tribunal judge in Gazipur, into retirement for their involvement in a demonstration at the secretariat on July 27. -The Daily Star, Aug 31, 2009.
Suranjit fires back
The chief of parliamentary standing committee on law, Suranjit Sengupta, rebutted the claim of state minister for law that the committee had not decided to summon Prime Minister's Adviser HT Imam. "The committee on Thursday unanimously decided to ask HT Imam and the secretaries of law and establishment ministries to appear before it to explain their actions of sending two judges to retirement," Suranjit said in a media conference at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. -The Daily Star, Aug 31, 2009.
Govt has no right to try war criminals
The present government has no authority to hold the trial of 1971 war criminals, BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury said. "This government may have the power to hold the trial of war criminals but it doesn't have the authority to do so," Salauddin said at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre. The BNP leader said the trial of war criminals is a very serious issue but it has been used for political gains. -The Daily Star, Aug 30, 2009.
Grabbers feast on Kuakata beach
With land prices rocketing in Kuakata, a gang of land grabbers has embarked on grabbing the beach defying court orders. These individuals have already occupied acres of the beach area, officially earmarked as khas land, and hung large signboards claiming ownership of demarcated 'plots'. Grabbing of this natural beach is happening so fast that by the time the administration in Patuakhali learns about it, the organised gangs 'procure enough documents' to fend off any action, local people said. -The Daily Star, Aug 30, 2009.
Info commission waits for office space, rules
The government has neither framed any rules nor set up an office for the Information Commission formed two months ago, which is delaying enforcement of the Right to Information Act, 2009 and depriving citizens of information. Failing to get an office, the commission recently started working temporarily at the National Institute of Mass Communications without any office staff or logistics support. "We could not start working in full swing mainly due to not having an office," said Chief Information Commissioner M Azizur Rahman. -The Daily Star, Aug 29, 2009.
Corresponding with the Law Desk
Please send your mails, queries, and opinions to: Law Desk, The Daily Star 19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215; telephone 8124944,8124955,fax 8125155; email: [email protected],[email protected]
