HC rejects petition on jail killing case
The High Court Division has rejected the application for transfer of the jail killing case from the trial court to the High Court Division for trial. A High Division bench comprising Justice Md. Abdul Quddus and Justice Syed Md. Dastagir Hossain passed the judgement. Johra Tajuddin, wife of slain Tajuddin Ahmed, filed an application before the High Court Division for transfer of the case from the trial court to the High Court Division and try the same. Following this petition the Court issued a rule upon the government to show cause as to why the said case should not be transferred from the trial court to the High Court Division. After hearing all the parties the High Court Division discharged the rule on the finding that the circumstances did not suggest transferring the case. -Inqilab, 26 August.

Backlog of cases in High Court Division
Due to shortage of judges in the High court Division of the Supreme Court the number of pending cases is increasing day by day. In 1982 the number of cases in High Court Division was 17 thousand, in 2001 this number was 1 lakh 27 thousand. At that time 25000 cases were enlisted everyday for hearing in 33 benches of the High Court Division. In December 2002, the number of cases under trial in the High Court Division was 1 Lakh 54 thousand. According to latest data, the number of cases in the High court Division till April of this year was 1 lakh 56 thousand 581. -Dinkal, 23 August.

Violence against women increasing
In the last one year violence against women has increased alarmingly. Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) revealed this information in the programme they arranged for the occasion of publication of their annual report on violence against women. Comparing the annual report 2002 to the annual report of 2000 published by the association they expressed it. It also informed that the types of violence increased are domestic violence, child-rape and suicide. The reveals that in 2002 a total of two thousand five hundred and eleven women became the victims of violence while in 2001 this statistic was one thousand six hundred and fifty. In the report the data of violence and ill treatment are presented classifying them into domestic violence and social-violence. In the last year 540 became victims of domestic violence, from whom 325 became victims of dower.
- Prothom Alo, 22 August.

Judge beaten up in courtroom
A man attacked a judge in the courtroom at Narayangonj on 26 August. According to police Ruhul Amin Swapan stormed into the courtroom, jumped over the table of the orderly and started beating Joint District Judge Rokeya Begum at around 11am. He also tried to strangle her and hit her on the head with a bottle. However, the orderly got hold of the enraged man and handed him over to police. Police said Swapan, son of Nannu Miah of Sonargaon Upazila, mumbled in delirium following his arrest. Soon after the incident, District Judge Abul Mansur, Deputy Commissioner Harunar Rashid and Superintendent of Police Helaluddin Badri rushed to the spot. This was the second untoward incident in the court since July 9 when 17 under-trial prisoners fled from the court. -Daily Star, 27 August.

Call for implementation of CEDAW
Participants at a workshop underscored the need for implementation of the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) in our country which adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979. The participants also called for the implementation of the constitutional rights of women to remove all forms of discrimination against them. The workshop on 'Constitutional Rights of Women in Bangladesh and CEDAW Convention' was organised by Bangladesh Mohila Samity. Justice Nayeemuddin Ahemd attended the workshop as chief guest while Begum Ivy Rahman, president of Bangladesh Mohila Samity, presided over it. Barrister Amir-ul Islam, vice chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council, presented the keynote paper at the workshop. Justice Nayeemuddin said the government should take necessary steps to implement the CEDAW Convention as soon as possible. About marriage and divorce of Muslim women, he observed that they are being exploited by misinterpreting the holy Quran. Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Advocate Sahara Khatun, general secretary, and Begum Shamsunnahar Siddique, vice-president, of Bangladesh Mohila Samity also spoke. -The Daily Star, 22 August.

Execution of verdict demanded
Sammilita Nari Samaj (SNS) at a rally has demanded immediate execution of the verdict of Yasmin rape and murder case. The rally was organised to mark of rape and murder of Yasmin by the patrol police in Dinajpur on August 24, 1995. The SNS observed the day as the day of resistance against repression on women. The speakers at the rally expressed their deep concern at the increasing number of incidents of women repression in the country. They opined that empowerment of women can resist repression at a great extent. Kazi Reena Reza, Naila Khan, Khaleda Khatun, Shamsunnahar Jyosna, Kohinur Begum, Hazera Sultana, Rokeya Rafiq Baby, Advocate Alina Khan also addressed at the rally. -The Daily Star, 25 August.

2,723 certificate cases pending
A total of 2,7234 certificate cases for realising a total of Tk 7,91,49,562 of various banks are pending for disposal in the Jhinedah collectorate office for years. Of the total cases, the Bangladesh Krishi Bank has lodged the highest number of cases. Thirteen branches of the bank has lodged a total of 1520 certificate cases for realising a total of Tk 2,53,19706 while Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) has lodged 461 certificate cases for realising Tk 2,44,41.900. Agrani Bank has lodged 97 certificate cases for realising Tk 1,45,45,780, Sonali Bank 287 cases for Tk 82,47,709, Janata Bank 94 cases for Tk 20,83,579, Pubali Bank 12 cases for Tk 1,80,578. In most cases, the lonees borrowed cash or kind from the banks or other organisations with a contract to return the cash along with the nominal percentage of interest within a specified short-term period. But as the lonees did not return the loan money after elapsing the last payment date, the banks lodged the cases.
- Independent, 26 August.

Writ against GPA-based admission withdrawn
A writ petition filed on 09 August by the Notre Dame College (NDC) principal challenging an education ministry circular on admission of students into colleges on the basis of Grade Point Average (GPA) has been withdrawn form the High Court Division on 26 August 2003. The dispute was settled between the college authority and education board. According to the settlement the ministry allowed the NDC authorities to take interview of aspiring students instead of written exams to categorise students in the GPA format. The High Court Bench comprising Justice MA Aziz and Justice Syed Rifat Ahmed discharged the petition. -Daily Star, 27 August.