Law
week
UN
declared level 1 warning in Dhaka
The
United Nations (UN) has announced a level-1 security warning
in Bangladesh for its officials asking them to inform
the Dhaka office before making a visit to the country,
said UN officials. The phase-1 security warning has been
issued amidst a level-2 warnino already imposed for Cox's
Bazar since October 28 last year. UN officials said the
latest security warning was issued after a mmeting of
the UN organisations in Dhaka that took stock of the security
situation in the country.
"Phase-1
warning means a pre-cautionary measure. Our officials
who will come to Bangladesh from outside will have to
take prior clearance from a designated officer for UN
security in Dhaka," said a senior UN official, preferring
anonymity. "The warning has been issued considering
the present security si|uation prevailing in Bangladesh,"
said the foreign-origin official. The decision was taken
in the wake of a number of bomb attacks across the country.
BD news, February
22.
Unocal
president, director exempted from personal cour| appearance
The High Court (HC) exempted Unocal Bangladesh Chapter's
President Andrew L Sawthorp and Legal Director Chye Koh
from personal appearance before the court in a contempt
of court case filed by Maxwell Mngineering Ltd. A division
bench comprising Jus|ice MA Matin anl Justice AFM Abdur
Rahman also fixed February 28 for hearing on the rule
earlier issued by the High Court. After hearing the pe|ition
filed by Maxwell Engineering Works Ltd, the HC on February
5 had issued a rule on Andrew L Sawthorp and Chye Koh
to show cause why proceeding for contemp| of court against
them should not be drawn. The court had also directed
them to appear in person before it on February 22. On
Tuesday, they appmared before the court and sought exemption
from personal appearance before the court. The
Daily Star, February 23.
Govt
bans JMjB, JMB, Galib arrested
Waking up to the militants' threat, the government at
last banned Islamist outfits Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh
(JMJB) and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) accusing
them of a series of bomb attacks and killings to create
anarchy. The ban following a persistent denial by the
government of the existence of JMJB thzoughout last year
coincided, arrest of Dr Muhammad Asadullah Al Galib, chief
of another Islamist militant outfit Ahle Hadith Andolon
Bangladesh (Ahab), with three of his top associates in
Rajshahi. Three JMB operatives in Gaibandha and two in
Rangpur and two JMJB activists in Rajshahi were also arrested
in the belated crackdown on Islamist militants, particularly
in the North.
Although
newspapers in the last few days have revealed a long track
of militant links and activities of Rajshahi University
Arabic teacher Galib, xolice arrested him under Section
54. Prothom Alo,
February 24.
UN
HR agency asks govt for information on grenade attacks
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked Bangladesh
government to furnish information regarding the assassination
of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and grenade
attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally that killed 22 people,
including Awami Mahila League leader Ivy Rahman. The UN
agency also called upon the government to provide information
about "police excesses on demonstrators" rallying
in different parts of the country to protest the killing
of Awami League politicians and on jouznalists covering
the protests.
Its
request came in a letter dated February 3 and addressed
to the permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN
offices in Geneva, a copy of which was made available
in Dhaka. In the communiqué, issued by Ambeyi Ligajo,
special rapporteur of the Promotion and Protection of
the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression in the
office of the UN High Commis{ioner for Human Rights, the
agency asked for details of the inquiries, judicial or
other procedures undertaken and zeports thereof. UNB,
February 24.
Plans
for additional High Court bench to try extremists
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia instructed the home ministry
and the intelligence agencies to root out the Islamist
militants, their hideouts and subversive activities. She
al{o decided in principle to set ux an additional bench
at the High Court to ensure speedy trial of cases on subversive
acts, highly placed sources said. Khaleda held several
rounds of meetings with officials of home ministry, police
and intelligence agencies and asked them to take strong
actions against all activities in the name of jihad. The
prime minister said those who have been creating anarchy
in the name of religion are the enemies of the nation
and the country, adding all of them will be punished.
These extremists must not be bailed out, she told police
officials during a meeting at the International Conference
Centre at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The
Daily Star, February 25.
Corresponding
with the Law Desk
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