JS receives scrutinised charter review bill

The parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry on Wednesday placed the much-talked-about bill on the constitutional amendment before the Jatiya Sangsad after scrutiny on Wednesday (June 29).


Awami League (AL) lawmaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, also a member of the committee, placed the bill titled ‘The Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Bill, 2011’ in the House on behalf of the committee at about 11:45am.
The bill is likely to be passed in the parliament Thursday, said sources.

Control Over Lower Courts; No move to restore SC's authority, Govt seeks to retain power

The hope for effective separation of the judiciary from the executive branch of the state seems to have waned as it is now clear that the upcoming constitutional amendment will not restore two related articles to their original 1972 positions.

The Supreme Court in a landmark verdict on the constitution's fifth amendment sought restoration of articles 115 and 116 to their original positions for a meaningful separation of the judiciary from executive branch.
But the constitutional amendment bill placed in the parliament on Saturday did not make any proposal to restore the two articles to their original positions, as the government seeks to retain its control over the lower judiciary, sources said.

Rather, the changes brought to these two articles by the constitution's fourth amendment and martial law proclamations are set to remain unchanged according to the proposals approved by the cabinet.
The bill was prepared in line with the recommendations of the parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment.

Tax lawyers for keeping ADR outside NBR

Individuals seeking to appeal with High Court against verdicts by Income Tax Tribunal will have to pay between 25-50 percent of the tax imposed by the court at the time of filing application.

The provision, proposed in the budget for the fiscal year of 2011-12, will create sufferings of taxpayers and aggrieved persons seeking justice, said Bangladesh Tax Lawyers' Association yesterday (June 26).

Koko's Tax Evasion Case; Hearing on charge framing deferred

A Dhaka court yesterday (June 26) extended the time for 18th time adjourning the hearing on charge framing till July 28 against Arafat Rahman Koko, son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a tax evasion case.

Meantime, Koko, who had earlier gone abroad for treatment, was sentenced to six years' rigorous imprisonment for siphoning off over Tk 20 crore to Singapore.

Changes to Charter; JS body starts scrutiny of bill today

The parliamentary standing committee on the law ministry today starts scrutiny of the constitution amendment bill placed in parliament on Saturday (June 25).

The bill proposes some major changes in the charter including scrapping of the provisions for caretaker government system for holding parliamentary elections.

Govt Plot Scam; ACC sues three ex-RDA officials

The Anti-Corruption Commission has sued three former officials of Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) for illegally acquiring 18 government plots six years ago.

The accused are former RDA chairman Tapan Chandra Majumder, former chief accounts officer Abdur Rab Joardar and former estate officer Abu Bakar Siddique.

Torture on Rumana; Sumon sent to jail

A Dhaka Court yesterday (June 26) sent Hasan Sayeed Sumon, who tortured his wife Rumana Manzur and damaged her eyes, to jail rejecting separate prayers for bail and remand.