Law
Week
Midnight crackdown on 'corrupt' politicians
The joint forces finally made a move against the hitherto untouchable corrupt bigwigs of BNP and Awami League (AL), detaining seven former ministers and several other top politicians of both the parties, the names of which have become synonymous to unbridled corruption over the years.The high profile detainees include Nazmul Huda, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Mohammad Nasim. The arrests, which came three weeks into former central bank governor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led caretaker government's declaration of war against corruptionists and criminal godfathers. Preparations are on to bring graft charges against the detainees, according to sources. The joint forces also have the names of 41 other top politicians and businessmen on their wanted list and will soon make an announcement for them to surrender, the sources said. However, advisers to the caretaker government Barrister Mainul Husein and Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin said the detainees were arrested on charges of corruption. Although military governments cracked down on politicians in the past, successive political governments miserably failed to rise above narrow party interests, and rather arrested and harassed only rival politicians. -- The Daily Star, February 5.
New CEC pledges major electoral reforms
Newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said his first task would be devising an action plan for major electoral reforms in consultation with the political parties and other stakeholders. On the first day in office, he told reporters that he would make the Election Commission (EC) an institution in which every citizen can take pride. "The commission must restore public confidence in it by ensuring transparency in all its activities. A level playing field should be created so that all can participate in the polls," he added.Earlier in the day, Huda, former water resources secretary, was sworn in as the CEC while Mohammad Sohul Hossain, another former bureaucrat, as election commissioner. Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain administered the oath at his Supreme Court chamber in a simple ceremony. The caretaker government recently appointed the two as the CEC and election commissioner. The new poll chief said he regards the new assignment as a big challenge. "I'm not here [EC] to take it as a mere job. I've been in that for the last 34 years. Now I want to serve the nation with my intelligence and wisdom," he observed. Avowing neutrality, he described himself as a man of strict discipline. -- The Daily Star, February 6.
Fida M Kamal made new attorney general
The government appointed Barrister Fida M Kamal as the attorney general (AG). The position of the state's chief law officer fell vacant after AJ Mohammad Ali resigned on January 24 in the wake of growing clamour for 'depoliticisation' of the AG Office. Fida had been serving as the additional attorney general since June 2002. Aged 59, he is the 13th attorney general. He did his Bar-at-Law at the Society of the Inner Temple, London, in 1978 and was enrolled as an advocate in 1979. Prothom Alo, February 6.
Dhaka to sign anti-graft UN convention
The caretaker government decided to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption to bring the country's anti-corruption measures up to the international standard. The decision was taken in a council of advisers meeting that was chaired by Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed, where they also discussed short-term solutions to power shortage, such as closing shops and malls early, using less street lights, and regulating the use of decorative lights. "The council of advisers decided that Bangladesh will sign on to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption," said Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim in a news briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office. Fahim said the council of advisers directed the foreign ministry to immediately take all necessary steps to initiate the process of ratifying the convention. The convention encourages its signatories to set up autonomous anti-corruption watchdogs, merit-based and impartial public service recruitment, public service codes of conduct, publication of government expenditure and to ensure transparency in election campaign funding, among others. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), on January 27, requested the caretaker government to sign the convention, as it would check embezzlement of public funds, cronyism, and abuse of public office. -- The Daily Star, February 6.
Party registration with EC to be mandatory
The caretaker government is preparing tough laws to make registration of political parties with the Election Commission (EC) mandatory in a bid to ensure financial transparency and accountability of the major parties. Besides, the government will issue an ordinance to bar civil servants from participating in the parliamentary election within at least three to four years of their retirement, said Law Adviser Mainul Hosein. Major political parties, including BNP and Awami League (AL), have been ignoring the registration law for the last six years since it is an optional provision. Adviser Tapan Chowdhury meanwhile said the caretaker government will make a final decision on the voters' identity cards early March following filing of recommendations by a committee working on it. In the face of strong opposition from major political parties, including the AL and BNP, the EC could not make political parties' registration mandatory ahead of the 2001 parliamentary election. The key political parties also opposed introduction of a provision barring civil servants from contesting parliamentary elections for at least three years after their retirement from service. --The Daily Star, February 7.
ACC chief Sultan, Miah resign
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan and Commissioner Prof Maniruzzaman Miah submitted their resignations to the president, while the other Commissioner Maniruddin Ahmed said he would take some time to submit his own. President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed accepted the resignation of Justice Sultan and Prof Prof Miah, reports UNB. Earlier President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed requested the ACC chairman and two commissioners to resign as part of the caretaker government's initiative to recast the anti-graft body. The ACC chairman attended his office and submitted his two-line resignation letter that just mentioned his willingness to resign. Prof Maniruzzaman Miah submitted a seven-page letter requesting the president to accept his resignation and find out who were responsible for the present condition of the ACC. Prof Miah described his version of how the ACC was made dysfunctional and said he was not at all responsible for the situation, sources said. --The Daily Star, February 8.
Cabinet gives nod to CrPC amendment
The council of advisers at a meeting approved the ordinance on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), necessary for separation of the judiciary from the executive, which will be promulgated by the president in a couple of days. With this promulgation, the long-awaited separation of the judiciary will come into effect. A Press Information Department (PID) handout said the council of advisers took the decision at a meeting at the chief adviser's (CA) office in Tejgaon with CA Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair. The meeting hoped that people of the country will benefit from the separation of judiciary from the executive. Besides upholding the constitutional pledge, it will reflect the long-standing hope of the people in general seeking justice. It will also fulfil the demand and expectation of the lawyers' community along with the civil society and people, the participants said. The cabinet secretary, press secretary to the chief adviser, and secretaries of the ministries concerned were present at the meeting. --The Daily Star, February 8.
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