Mannan appeals to HC to vacate stay order
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) leader major (retd) Abdul Mannan
appealed to the High Court to vacate the stay order on his petition
filed with the EC challenging the validity of the Dhaka-10 by-polls.
They filed the appeal to a division bench comprising Justice Abdul Wahab
Mia and Zenat Ara.-Daily Star, August 16.
Death
from custodial torture alleged
Death of poor rickshawpuller due to alleged torture in custody has created
resentment among people in the town. But authorities of Jessore Central
Jail, Jessore Hospital and a Court Inspector have suppressed the matter.
The torture came to light when people attending the Namaj-e-Janaja of
victim Anisur Rahman found marks of injury on the body and the body
was buried without autopsy. He was arrested on May 31 by Jhikargacha
police under Section 54 while he was going to his father-in-law's house
at Chapatala village in the upazila and on June 1, he was produced before
a Magistrate court, which sent him to Jessore Central Jail (Hajati No.
2596/04).- Daily Star, August 16.
Cabinet
okays women's JS seats election bill
The cabinet yesterday approved a bill on the Jatiya Sangsad reserved
seats for women that proposes an election mechanism and empowers the
EC to proportionately distribute 45 seats among political parties.
The bill says the EC will seek lawmakers' lists from the political parties
or alliances and will distribute the women's seats among them on a pro
rata basis.- Daily Star,August 17.
Discrimination
against women commissioners illegal: HC
The High Court ruled on August 16 that women city-corporation ward commissioners,
elected to reserved seats, were equal to their colleagues of the general
seats in terms of power and functions and should not be discriminated
against in any manner. The court passed the judgement on a writ petition,
filed by 10 Khulna City Corporation ward commissioners, elected to reserved
seats, against the government circular.- New Age, August 17.
Dhaka
may ask Delhi to ratify 1974 treaty
Bangladesh is planning to ask India to ratify the Indo-Bangladesh Land
Agreement of 1974 for establishing a legal basis for a quick resolution
to demarcate the still disputed six and a half km of borders between
the neighbours.
"The agreement should be ratified and Bangladesh has done it. If
it is not ratified there is no legal basis to solve outstanding land
disputes," Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told reporters
after an inter-ministerial meeting at the foreign ministry on August
18.- Daily Star, August 19 .
Separation
of Judiciary
The Supreme Court took the government to task after it failed to specify
the time it needs to fully comply with the court directives to separate
the judiciary from the executive despite having the deadline extended
for 18 times. The full bench of the Appellate Division was ready to
give the government another four-month extension on condition that it
would seek no further extension. The government, however, could not
make such a commitment, prompting the court to adjourn hearing on the
government's appeal till November 9 without extending time. The government
told the court it needs some more time to take steps to finalise two
judicial service rules needed for separation of the judiciary.
The court said it feels ashamed of the government's coming to it over
and again with the same matter. If it believes court is its guardian,
its action should show it. It should maintain dignity and supremacy
of the court, the bench observed.
The seven-member Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Syed JR Modassir
Hosain also laughed at the excuses the government makes to repeatedly
seek additional time to implement the court orders. After the 18th extension
of the SC deadline, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Moudud Ahmed said the government would comply with the court orders
by the fresh deadline and would seek no more extension. He added that
the government alone cannot complete the work and needs co-operation
from the court.-Law Desk.
