Bangladesh HC questiones 'Islam' in Constitution

Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday issued a rule upon the government to explain as to why inclusion of the state religion ‘Islam’ in the Constitution by its Eighth Amendment should not be declared unconstitutional and ultra vires.

Following a writ petition of 1988, a bench of the HC comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Gobindra Chandra Tagore passed the order.

The bench fixed June 16 for hearing on the rule. Before the date, Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Speaker of the Parliament have to reply to the rule.

Muzammel made chief justice

Justice Md Muzammel Hossain

Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, a senior judge of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC), has been appointed as the 20th chief justice of Bangladesh.

President Zillur Rahman yesterday made the appointment as per article 95(1) of the constitution.
The appointment will come into effect on May 18 this year, as present Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque will retire on May 17.

Constitution Amendment : PM for following SC verdict on CG

Hasan Jahid Tusher


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the parliamentary special committee to prepare its final report on future constitutional amendments following the recent Supreme Court verdict.
The verdict declared the caretaker government system illegal.

The committee will eventually place its report along with a draft bill for bringing changes to the constitution in the next parliament session that begins on May 22.

Supersession of judges fraught with danger of uncertainty: Experts

Mohammad Ali 

Appointment of Chief Justice of Bangladesh superseding the senior justices twice in recent times is likely to touch off a chaotic situation further pushing the country into a state of uncertainty, according to people of different shades. 

They were of the view that the politicians irrespective of their party affiliations and the parliament must have to demonstrate sagacity and play constructive role to ward off the country's slide toward political turmoil and chaos.

CHARTER REVIEW: War sacrifices shouldn't be lost sight of: CJ

Chief justice A B M Khairul Haque has said the supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters should be there in mind while amending the constitution.

"We've got the constitution at the cost of blood and the supreme sacrifice of 3 million people. Let's not forget their sacrifices while reviewing it," he said on Saturday.

People now can SC cases' info by SMS

BL House Report

From now on, anyone can know about update cases filed with the Supreme Court (SC) by sending SMS over mobile phone.

To get the service, case number (such as SC Criminal Mis 29687/2010) has to be sent to '2233' from any mobile phone. Thereafter, the automated system will send the relevant cases' information back to the user.

Limon gets bail: HC asks govt to arrange his treatment

The High Court (HC) on May 5 granted bail for six months to Limon Hossain, who was shot into disability by Rapid Action Battalion, in an arms case filed against him by the elite force with Rajapur Police Station in Jhalakathi.


The court also directed the government to arrange his treatment at one of the country’s best hospitals as per his choice.

SC dismisses Yunus petition

The Supreme Court on May 5 dismissed two petitions filed in connection with Dr Muhammad Yunus' removal from the post of managing director at Grameen Bank.


The seven-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque passed the order at about 10:20am.

Sanctity of Shaheed Minar: Contempt rule against DCC mayor, cultural secretary

The High Court on May 4 issued a contempt of court rule against the Dhaka City Corporation mayor and secretary to the ministry of cultural affairs for not complying with its order to protect sanctity and dignity of the Central Shaheed Minar.

In the rule, the court asked Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and the secretary to explain within two weeks why contempt proceedings should not be brought against them on charge of violation of its order.

Verdict on 7th Amendment: Hearing adjourned till May 8

The Supreme Court May 4 adjourned till May 8 for hearing an appeal filed against the High Court verdict that declared illegal the seventh amendment to the constitution that had legitimised the military rule by HM Ershad.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, fixed the date after a brief hearing on the appeal filed by one Siddique Ahmed of Chittagong, who earlier challenged the seventh amendment to the constitution.

Bar on Teachers: HC directs EC to explain

The High Court on May 4 asked the Election Commission to explain within four weeks why its restriction on the school and college teachers to contest in the Union Parisad (UP) polls should not be declared illegal.

Responding to a writ petition filed by four teachers from Jamalpur and Kurigram, the HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Md Nuruzzaman also directed the EC to allow the petitioners to contest in the upcoming UP polls.

SC concludes fatwa hearing

The Supreme Court (SC) on May 4 concluded hearing on an appeal filed against the High Court verdict that declared fatwa (religious edict) illegal.
The six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque will deliver a verdict on the appeal on any day.

JS alone can amend Constitution: Tofail Ahmed

Wednesday, 06 October 2010

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industries Ministry Tofail Ahmed yesterday said Parliament is the sole authority to amend the Constitution. However, not undermining the institution of judiciary, he added that one was bound to abide by the orders of the court.

“We are bound to comply with the judgment of the court…,” the Awami League legislator said in a media briefing at the media centre of Jatiya Sangsad and added, “But other issues out of the court’s verdict will be decided by Parliament.”

Reprinted Constitution only a draft: experts

Monday, 07 March 2011

Dhaka, Mar 6: The status of the reprinted Constitution has come under debate as many experts and members of the parliamentary sub-committee on constitutional amendment do not want to accept it as the “amended” version.

Talking to The Independent, they made it clear that they consider it as a “draft” for amendment. But law minister Shafiq Ahmed is in no way ready to accept their view. “There is no question of treating the reprinted copies of the Constitution as draft copies,” he said. 

He added: “Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution. But since the Supreme Court has made some provisions illegal and issued directions to replace those, we have reprinted the Constitution replacing the sections declared illegal. Now, if someone reads the previous edition, it would be improper because many old provisions have already been declared illegal.”

Constitution of ’72 restored: HC None should be forced to wear religious attire, observes court

Tuesday, 05 October 2010

In a significant development, the High Court yesterday observed that the original Constitution of 1972 was automatically restored following the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Fifth Amendment case.

After disposing of a suo moto rule issued by the High Court on August 22 this year regarding forcing women to wear religious attire like Burqa (veil) in educational institutions, a High Court bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain yesterday said that no one within the borders of Bangladesh should be compelled to wear Burqa or other religious attires against her/his wish.