Law
Week
RU Teacher Killing
Mohiuddin confesses to involvement
Rajshahi University teacher Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin confessed to his involvement in the killing of Prof S Taher Ahmed and named RU unit Islami Chhatra Shibir President Shalehi as his accomplice, police said. The police started a hunt for Shalehi after the arrested teacher's confession during interrogation. Police sources said several teams of detective and special branches of police are trying to trap Shalehi. The police are ready to pay up to Tk 30,000 for information leading to his arrest, they added. Jahangir and Nazmul, two arrested suspects, have in their confessional statements before a magistrate also named Mohiuddin and Shalehi as the masterminds of the killing. The absconding Shibir leader, heavily guarded by cadres, showed up during a huge showdown in Shaheb Bazar on February 10 and went into hiding again. Top Jamaat-Shibir leaders the same day held a rally attended by Shalehi and threatened police and journalists with dire consequences for doing or writing anything against him. -The Daily Star, February 12
Hasina places reform proposals for fair polls
On return after a prolonged boycott, Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina placed in parliament a set of proposals for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems, which the opposition says, are meant to make the election free and fair. Sheikh Hasina, also president of the main opposition Awami League (AL), in her one-hour speech placed a five-point proposal for amending the formation and jurisdiction of the caretaker government, a 15-point proposal for making the Election Commission (EC) 'truly independent' and an 11-point proposal for reforms in the existing electoral laws. Reading out the proposals, she said, "Now it is the property of the House and I urge the government to take steps to this end." "We don't want to assume power by whatever means, rather we want to establish the people's right to vote so that they themselves can choose their rulers," she said, adding that the opposition proposals are absolutely imperative for the elections to be fair and free from the influence of black money and muscle power. -The Daily Star, February 13.
JS okays tele-tapping as AL walks out
Amid strong protests from the opposition lawmakers and despite their walkout en masse, the Jatiya Sangsad passed a bill allowing intelligence and law enforcement agencies to tap telephone conversations. Opposition members in a line opposed the bill and said the law is unconstitutional and against the fundamental rights of citizens, as it will infringe on their right to privacy. They also apprehended abuse of the law by the officials who will tap telephone conversations. The opposition lawmakers also initiated a motion for non-approval of the President's Ordinance promulgated in last December. But, the motion was rejected in a voice vote. On the other hand, Post and Telecommunications Minister Aminul Haque, who proposed the passage of the Bangladesh Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2006, assured the opposition members that there would be no abuse of the law, rather it will help tackle criminal activities. Senior AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim termed it 'a black law' and apprehended abuse of it. He asked the government to withdraw the bill. - The Daily Star, February 13.
Political Links
HC bars judge from judicial work
The High Court in an unprecedented move issued an injunction barring a divisional judge from judicial activities for two weeks following a writ petition alleging his involvement in politics. The injunction came against Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Rezaul Karim Khan Chunnu who allegedly took part in several programmes of the ruling BNP and expressed his interest in contesting the next parliamentary elections. The High Court bench also issued a rule upon the government asking it to show cause in two weeks why it should not be asked to take action against the divisional judge for his alleged participation in political activities. Supreme Court lawyer Khairul Alam filed the writ petition. Advocate M Enayetur Rahim, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), and advocate Abdul Matin Khasru moved for the petitioner. Respondents of the rule are secretaries of the law ministry, Cabinet Division and the president, the Supreme Court registrar and the judge Chunnu. -The Daily Star, February 14.
Feuding SQ Chy family wanders in legal maze
A multilateral family feud has given rise to a bitter legal battle among cousins and has resulted in a split in the joint family of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, parliamentary affairs adviser to the prime minister. Salauddin's cousins Salman F Rahman and Sohel F Rahman filed a case against three directors of the QC Container Line Ltd, who are also Salauddin's brothers. Significantly, Salauddin's name is not among the accused though he is a member of the board of directors. In a latest development in the family feud, Salauddin filed a lawsuit against the general manager of the finance department of the company, Syed Abrar Hossain, accusing him of misappropriating TK 95 crore of the company's money. The court issued a warrant for Abrar's arrest following the filing of the case. -The Daily Star, February 14.
OC suspended for offering bribe to reporter
The officer-in-charge (OC) of Kamrangichar Police Station was suspended yesterday on charge of offering bribe to a reporter of Channel 1. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman confirmed the action against OC Farid. Police said the reporter with camera crew went to the police station and inquired about the allegation that he (OC) had set free an official of Desh Bandhu, an NGO, after taking bribe. Sensing that his misdeed was being leaked to the media, the OC offered bribe to the reporter. Their conversation was secretly recorded and later aired in the TV channel. -UNB, Dhaka, February 15.
Govt firm to maintain peace, says PM
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia categorically said those responsible for any injudicious activities would be dealt with a strong hand, assuring that her government is working firmly to maintain peace and security in all spheres of society. The prime minister made the strongly worded statement while addressing the national conference 2006 of the Council for Interfaith Harmony, Bangladesh (CIH, BD) at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC). "Bangladesh shall move forward with firm footsteps in its journey of peace by joining the international cavalcade against subversion and terrorism. We consider our duties towards our citizens as our sacred trust. There is no scope for backtracking on this responsibility," she told the function, first of its kind in Bangladesh. The prime minister urged country's religious leaders to play an ever-vigilant role in maintaining communal harmony in the country, saying that the government will remain beside them in any noble endeavour. She hoped that the Council for Interfaith Harmony would soon become a platform for all religious communities of Bangladesh. "Please use this organisation as an excellent opportunity for knowing and understanding yourselves and for coming closer to each other," she noted. The function began with recitation from holy books of four major religionsthe Quran, the Geeta, the Tripitak and the Bible--with their translations. -UNB, Dhaka, February 15.
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 <dslawdesk@yahoo.co.uk,lawdesk@thedailystar.net
