Law
week
Gang targets workers abroad
A transnational gang is abducting Bangladeshi workers for ransom in countries in the Middle East, deceiving them with false promises of lucrative jobs in Europe. It came to light after a case was filed against six of the gang members in Dhaka. They took ransom from the family members of Aminul Islam, 30, of Rajshahi, who with six others has been held hostage in Pakistan. The gang is now threatening Aminul's family with dire consequences unless the case is withdrawn. The Detective Branch of police is now investigating the case. - The Daily Star, March 18, 2010.
PM warns of stern action against child repression
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned of stern actions against anyone found involved in child repression. "A law has been enacted to deal with it," she said while addressing a children's rally and cultural programme on Bangabandhu's grave complex here. The Ministry of Women And Children Affairs organised the function marking the 90th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The PM said her government wants to ensure education for every child. "We have ensured measures so the children do not engage in hazardous works." -The Daily Star, March 18, 2010.
310 BDR rebels appear in court
As many as 310 alleged BDR rebels in an unprecedented move were hauled before a special court of Bangladesh Rifles. Such a large number of accused were sitting in the dock of the three-member Special Court-5 set up at the Darbar Hall of BDR Pilkhana Headquarters. All the accused except one of 36 Rifle Battalion of Dhaka sector were in uniforms without official cap and belt, with many of them growing a beard. One alleged mutineer was produced before the court in an ambulance as he was ill. The ambulance was parked at the porch of main entrance of the courtroom and a loudspeaker was set for him to hear the trial proceedings. -The Daily Star, March 17, 2010.
Save Modhupur sal forest
The High Court issued a rule upon the government asking for protecting natural Modhupur sal forest in Tangail and settling longstanding disputes over the land and forest rights of indigenous people there. The court asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to arrange an alternative settlement for indigenous people living at salban area before cancelling their settlements. It also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to demarcate the salban area properly, and frame rules on village forestry, and stop commercial cultivation of bananas, papayas, pineapples on the forest land. - The Daily Star, March 17, 2010.
Test Dhaka's supply water
The High Court directed the government to get water supplied in eight areas of the capital tested by Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and submit the test reports to it within two weeks. The areas include Azimpur, Moghbazar, Dhanmaondi, Eskaton, Elephant Road, Banani, Khilgaon and Lalbagh. The court also directed the government to obtain a report from the World Health Organisation on whether there is trihalomethane (THM) in water supplied for the city dwellers, and submit the report to it within four weeks. Presence of THM in water beyond a certain level is said to increases the risk of cancer. - The Daily Star, March 16, 2010.
Rid Pharma MD granted bail
A Brahmanbaria court granted bail to the managing director of Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd in a case filed for manufacturing adulterated paracetamol syrup that caused the deaths of 28 children last year. District and Sessions Judge AFM Mustafa passed the order after the counsel for the Rid Pharma MD, Mizanur Rahman, submitted a bail petition. The court fixed April 15 for next hearing. Abdul Khayer Chowdhury, assistant director of Department of Drug Administration (Comilla Zone), filed the case against five Rid Pharma officials on August 11, 2009. - The Daily Star, March 16, 2010.
Nights in forest, days at roadside
Several hundred indigenous hill people were waiting near the Gangaram Mukh passenger shed, built by the law enforcers for local residents. Now it is the only structure still standing in the area, since the recent ethnic violence in Baghaichhari of Rangamati burnt to ashes all other structures including houses, schools, clinics, temples, and churches. Even the health workers were immunizing children under a roadside tree. All hills near that road through Kasalong Reserve Forest now lay barren. No house or big tree can be seen on them. Local Adivasis said all big trees were cut down first for building the road, then for setting up a law enforcers' camp, followed by razing of the remaining trees by Bangalee settlers. -The Daily Star, March 15, 2010.
SC stays HC restriction on waste dumping
The Supreme Court stayed a High Court order in which it asked Dhaka City Corporation not to dump waste at Amin Bazar in Savar for two months. A four-member bench of Appellate Division of the SC headed by Justice MA Matin passed the order after disposing of a leave to appeal petition by DCC authorities against the HC order. Counsel for DCC Ruhul Quddus Kajal told The Daily Star that now there is no bar for his client to dumping waste at Amin Bazar. During the hearing, senior counsel for DCC barrister Rafique-ul Huq told the court that at least 4,200 tonnes of waste are produced in Dhaka city every day. - The Daily Star, March 15, 2010.
Green light to cut 4,000 trees
A timber trader chopped down over 100 trees and destroyed two betel leaf enclosers at Kailin Punji near Nahar Tea Garden in Srimangal after the High Court gave the go-ahead to cut down 4,000 trees. Earlier, 1,200 trees were already felled in 2008. The HC bench comprising Justice Md Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed and Justice Naima Haider in the go-ahead on February 22 allowed the garden owner to cut the trees. Indigenous people of neighbouring Khasia Punjis (villages) and environmentalist group Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) apprehend displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral homesteads, loss of traditional livelihood and environmental degradation as a consequence of the wholesale tree felling. - The Daily Star, March 14, 2010.
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