Law Week
Democracy dealt havoc
The High Court came down heavily on martial law and both military regimes in the country in its judgment on the Seventh Amendment and said all military rulers and their accomplices must be punished. "Not only General Ershad but all his accomplices as well as such perpetrators of 1975 martial law, who may still be alive, must face the wrath of ultimate justice," said the HC in its historic judgment. The court judgment said: "Two military regimes, the first being with effect from 15th August, 1975, and the second one being between 24th March 1982, and 10th November 1986, put the country miles backward. Both the martial laws devastated the democratic fabric, as well as the patriotic aspiration of the country."-The Daily Star, December 30, 2010.
Textile mill sealed, fined Tk 2.24cr
The Department of Environment (DoE) sealed Experience Textiles Ltd, a Pakistani venture for fabric dyeing at Bhaluka in Mymensingh, and fined it Tk 2.24 crore for polluting over 232 acres of agricultural land. This is the highest amount of fine ever imposed by the DoE. Officials involved in the DoE drive that detected such a massive pollution said the factory authorities kept their effluent treatment plant (ETP) shut, and were discharging liquid toxic pollutants through a pipeline in Kakchhara and Sadhuya beels (wetlands) and agricultural lands around. They wanted to hide their misdeed by covering with large polythene sheets the spot where the pollutants are discharged from the pipeline, said Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, DoE director of enforcement and monitoring. -The Daily Star, December 30, 2010.
Sircar, Delwar sued
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed five cases against three senior BNP leaders and a former accounts chief of the parliament secretariat. Of the four accused, former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar is implicated in all five cases, filed for misappropriation of public funds and property during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule, said police and ACC officials. Former chief whip and BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain stands accused in three cases, former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui in one and parliament secretariat's former chief accounts officer (CAO) Ashraful Islam in two cases. -The Daily Star, December 29, 2010.
SC asks for documents from TIB
The Supreme Court (SC) asked the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) to submit relevant documents and its household survey report that said most service seekers fell victim to corruption at the judiciary. The TIB said it would submit the survey report and a detailed explanation of the survey methodology before the SC. "Yes, we have received the letter this afternoon. We would send our report along with a detailed description of the methodology we've applied during the survey to the Supreme Court tomorrow morning," Dr Iftekharuzzaman, TIB executive director, told The Daily Star. Badrul Alam Bhuiyan, deputy registrar at the SC, signed the letter. -The Daily Star, December 29, 2010.
Discord over CHT land intensifies
Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Committee's hearings, that were supposed to be inaugurated yesterday, are now in a limbo amid protests from indigenous communities and the government's stalling over making its position clear. The indigenous communities are demanding that CHT Land Commission law be amended, as the current law gives the commission chairman absolute power to decide ownership of disputed lands. They are also demanding resignation of current Chairman Khademul Islam Chowdhury. Meanwhile, the government is not making its position clear. -The Daily Star, December 28, 2010.
Law being used to serve petty interest
Rule of law in the country is at stake now as people are worried they won't get justice from the existing system, said speakers at a roundtable. The speakers also stressed the need for a mass movement saying rule of law won't be established until transparency and accountability are ensured in every sector. They criticised lawmakers, law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary for violating laws and said law is now being used in the interest of politics and certain individuals. Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (Shujan), a platform of civil society members, organised the roundtable titled "Current state of rule of law in Bangladesh" at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. Shujan President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said people expected a democratic environment after the national polls but it could not be achieved. -The Daily Star, December 28, 2010.
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