Law
Week
Reforms in polls, politics
Civil society hands over vision paper to BNP, AL
Two top leaders of main rival political alliances expressed similar views on curbing the influence of black money, terrorism and corruption in the election process to strengthen democracy. The two leaders -- BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil also agreed with the set of recommendations of the civil society for bringing reforms in the election and politics and stressed the need for reducing the election expenditure. Speaking at the function of Nagorik Forum, a civil society initiative for accountable development, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, the leaders stressed the need for developing institutions for protecting the democracy and parliament from black money holders and terrorists. A set of recommendations prepared through 15 dialogues across the country, a vision paper for Bangladesh in 2021 and a draft of ordinance for bringing necessary amendments to the Representative of People Order (RPO) were formally handed over to the two major political parties -- BNP and Awami League. The civil society recommended bringing massive reforms in the political system, electoral laws, electoral code of conduct and administration. -- The Daily Star, December 10.
CA justifies army deployment in his address to nation
President and Chief Adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed assured the nation that the democratic and constitutional process would continue in the country despite the deployment of army. "I would like to firmly assure you that our hard-earned democratic and constitutional process will continue," he said in an address to the nation, the third after he assumed office of the chief advisor to the caretaker government. "I do expect that I'll be able to hand over power to the government to be elected through a fair election in cooperation with the people and all concerned within the stipulated time," he said. The president said there is no alternative to holding the general election to the 9th parliament to uphold the democratic process and the constitution. "The Election Commission has already taken all steps to hold the election in time." Prof Iajuddin called upon the people to cooperate with the Armed Forces in discharging their duties, as the army is the national institution built through the War of Liberation. "They neither belong to any party nor any quarter." He also called upon the officials and employees of the republic to discharge their respective duties neutrally, giving utmost importance to the interests of the country as well as the people. --UNB, Dhaka, December 11.
Sedition Case
Lawyers granted bail as SC resumes work
A High Court (HC) bench granted ad interim anticipatory bail for six months to seven Supreme Court (SC) lawyers including barrister Amir-Ul Islam and barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud in two separate sedition cases on the first day of SC judges resuming work. Another HC bench the same day directed the government not to arrest or harass some 11 lawyer-petitioners for three months without any due legal process. The HC division bench passed the bail order when the seven lawyers surrendered before it with bail prayers. They are Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President barrister Amir-Ul Islam, Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-chairman barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, former SCBA secretary Enayetur Rahim, advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Awsafur Rahman, Khashruzzaman and Subrata Saha. The bench also issued rule on the government to explain why the petitioners should not be granted regular bail. Barrister Rafique-ul Haq, Dr M Zahir, Mahmudul Islam, barrister Shafiq Ahmed, barrister Azmalul Hossain and Abdul Baset Majumder appeared for the petitioners. Barrister Omar Sadat and SC authorities brought the sedition charges separately against around 200 lawyers for the November 30 vandalism on the Supreme Court premises. --The Daily Star, December 11.
Distorting history
Judicial inquiry ordered against Moudud
A Dhaka court ordered a judicial inquiry after a lawyer filed a criminal case against former law minister barrister Moudud Ahmed for distorting history about the proclamation of independence in 1971. Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mohammad Mujibul Haq passed the order when advocate ASM Iqbal Hossain, joint convener of Lawyers' Union for Protection of People's Right, filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM's) Court for the matter. In his complaint, Iqbal mentioned that Moudud, while holding his portfolio, in the preface to the publication of the constitution printed on August 1 this year, said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the national leader of the majority party, was arrested from his residence and taken to the then West Pakistan. "The elected political leadership failed to give directions to the people at that critical moment. "In that situation, in response to the indispensable demand of time, the then Major Ziaur Rahman of the Army, made the historic declaration of independence from Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong as leader of the war of resistance." Moudud's statement is contrary to the fact regarding the proclamation of the independence and nothing but a lie, the complainant said. --The Daily Star, December 11.
Corresponding with the Law Desk
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