Law
week
Order issued to nab Rid bosses
A Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against the managing director of Rid Pharma Ltd, its two directors and two pharmacists after the government filed a case accusing them of manufacturing drugs that lacked specified standards. A total of 26 children died across the country during the last month and a half due to renal failures, most of which were caused by intake of Rid's paracetamol syrup that contained poisonous chemicals. This is the first legal step the government has taken against Rid. -The Daily Star, Aug 12, 2009.
Remove roadside illegal structures
A parliamentary body directed the authorities to dismantle the illegal structures along roads and highways to reduce traffic congestion, particularly in the capital where it is at its worst. The House standing committee on the communications ministry also asked Rajuk, Wasa, Desa, and traffic police officials to attend its next meeting to discuss a coordinated action plan to resolve the traffic jams that eat up precious work hours of the city commuters. Besides, the committee asked the ministry to patch up differences between the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and the private bus owners' association. -The Daily Star, Aug 12, 2009.
New governing body to run Proshika
The High Court directed that Proshika will be run as usual by its present governing body. The HC bench of Justice Md Abdus Salam gave the status quo directive disposing of a civil revision petition filed by Qazi Faruque Ahmed, the ousted chairman of Proshika. The bench ruled that Faruque can enter the Proshika office as its former chairman, but he cannot take any decision for this office and cannot hold any meeting or procession on the office premises. On May 24, the present governing body of Proshika replaced Qazi Faruque with advocate Abdul Wadud as the organisation's chairman in the face of employees' agitation against Faruque for corruption and nepotism. -The Daily Star, Aug 12, 2009.
Koko, lawyers asked to explain 'forgery'
The High Court (HC) asked Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and his two lawyers to explain within three weeks why an enquiry into forgery allegations against them should not be instigated. The government earlier alleged that Koko and his counsels barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Taherul Islam Tawhid submitted a forged letter of authority while filing a writ petition with the HC challenging the proceedings of a money laundering case against Koko. -The Daily Star, Aug 11, 2009.
Mobile courts lack strong teeth
The government is set to start anti-adulteration drive without any sting in the form of strict punishment against offenders, including the persons responsible for making foods toxic. On July 23, the present government approved the Mobile Court Ordinance 2009, which lacks the provision for punishment like cancellation of trade licence. However, the mobile court has been provided with the power to instantly try offenders, who are involved in adulteration and poisoning of food items. -The Daily Star, Aug 11, 2009.
Bangabandhu murder case hearing soon
Hearings of the appeals of convicted defendants in the long pending Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassination case will start before the August 15 National Day of Mourning, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed. The hearings can be held as there is no shortage of judges in the Supreme Court (SC) now, he added. On August 15 of 1975, Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed along with most of his family members by a band of army men. -The Daily Star, Aug 10, 2009.
CHT land survey by year-end
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed y said the government will carry out a survey in the hill districts by December to recover and protect the land of the indigenous people. "The government will engage its efforts in land survey in the hill districts without any delay and it will be completed by December," said Shafique Ahmed. The minister was speaking at a meeting which was arranged by Bangladesh Adivasi Forum marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous People with the demand of constitutional recognition of the indigenous people. -The Daily Star, Aug 10, 2009.
Call to recognise 45 ethnic groups constitutionally
Indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) still feel insecure because of the army presence and the government's inaction in protecting them from repression, Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum President Santu Larma said. “Army presence and land grabbing continue in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The government must adopt a specific plan to stop it and establish constitutional rights of the indigenous people,” Santu said at the inauguration of a two-day programme on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2009 at the Central Shaheed Minar. -The Daily Star, Aug 09, 2009.
Hearing on August 12
A Dhaka Court will give its decision on August 12 whether the charges would be taken into cognisance against Opposition Leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others in a case filed for embezzlement of Tk 2.10 crore by forming fraudulent Zia Orphanage Trust. Judge ANM Bashirullah of Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court fixed the date of hearing after the case was transferred to the court on Thursday for trial. Arrest warrants would be issued against the accused if the charges are taken into cognisance, the sources said. -The Daily Star, Aug 08, 2009.
Bangladesh Society of International Law (BSIL) Floated
A meeting was held with the participation of legal experts on international law, academicians, lawyers and researchers at 46 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka on 5th August 2009. The present day status of international law and our national response to it was discussed at the meeting. It was decided that a society of international law dedicated for that purpose should be established. It is widely felt that position of Bangladesh in international law should be constantly highlighted, researched, exposed. Hence there should be a platform which can work for the dissemination of knowledge on international law. The Bangladesh Society of International Law (BSIL) would be such a premier national forum for teaching, research and promotion of international law. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution naming Professor Dr. M. Habibur Rahman, former Dean, Faculty of Law and Chairman, Department of Law and Justice, University of Rajshahi, as President and Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Professor of Law, Dhaka University as Secretary General of the BSIL. Dr. Ridwanul Hoque, Dr. Rahmatullah, Ms. Rumana Islam, Dr. Mohammad Jeaul Hasan, S M Masum Billah, Syed Masud Reza, Iftekhar Mahmud, Anisur Rahman, Farhana Reza and Tapos Kumar Das attended the meeting amongst others. -Law Desk
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