US Senator-elect urges PM: Make ICT Act compatible with rule of law

A US Senator-elect has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to bring necessary changes to the International Crimes Tribunal act in order to prosecute war criminals for crimes committed during the war of liberation in 1971.

"Many in the international justice movement commend the country's precedent setting efforts to create a war crimes tribunal, but wish to remove the strong suspension that the Tribunal is being used as a tool for political revenge because of its denial of fair trial standards to the accused. I encourage your government to make necessary changes to the Act in order to comply with international standards as ratified in the Rome statute of the Internal Criminal Court," US Senator-elect John Boozman made the call in a letter sent to the Prime Minister recently.

HC asks govt to enforce house rent law properly

The High Court (HC) yesterday (May 18, 2010 ) issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be directed to enforce properly the law concerning house rent to prevent house owners in the capital from arbitrarily raising rent and taking advance from tenants.

The court came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition seeking directives for strict enforcement of the House Rent Control Act 1991.

SC upholds HC ad interim bail to 5 Jamaat men

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (December 20) upheld the High Court (HC) orders that granted ad interim bail to five detained Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in five separate cases filed against them on charges of obstructing police from discharging duties.

The leaders are Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, Naeeb-e-Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee, Senior Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and its leader Abdul Kader Molla.

Trial of war criminals in Jan-Feb, Says law minister

Unb, Dhaka

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday (December 20) said that the trial of the detained war crimes-accused will start in January-February next year.

After a meeting with the prosecution panel and the investigation team of International Crimes Tribunal at the Law Ministry, he said charge sheets will be submitted against those already arrested before the commencement of the trial.

SC clears way for holding poura polls in 3 districts

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (December 20) cleared the way for holding elections to Chandpur Sadar, Madaripur Sadar and Netrokona's Madan Pourasavas.
Chamber Judge Justice SK Sinha of the Appellate Division stayed for six weeks the High Court (HC) orders that stayed the process for holding elections to the municipalities.

Constt reprint began: Religious parties likely to be banned

BLHouse Report

Reprinting of the Constitution restoring its Articles 12 and 38, that banned forming religion-based politics and organizations, began.

Following the judgment of the Supreme Court on Fifth Amendment, the reprinting was started at the Bangladesh Government (BG) Press, reported sheershanews.com.

SC clears way for holding polls in five pourashava

The Supreme Court yesterday (December 19) cleared the way for holding elections to five municipalities in Cox's Bazar and Magura to be held on January 18.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division stayed for six weeks the High Court orders that stayed the process for holding elections to Cox's Bazar Sadar, Chakoria, Moheshkhali and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, and Magura Sadar pourasavas.

SQ Chowdhury shown detained following ICT arrest warrant

BLHouse Report

Detained BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was shown arrested following an arrest warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday (December 19).

ICT yesterday issued the warrant of arrest against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury in a case filed on charge of committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

The Tribunal also issued a 'production warrant' directing the authorities to produce SQ Chowdhury before it on December 30, 2010 following two petitions.

Give first class division two Jamaat leaders in jail: HC

BLHouse Report

The High Court yesterday directed the jail authorities to give first class division to detained Jamaat leaders Abdul Kader Mollah and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman in jail.

A bench of the HC of Justices Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Jahangir Hossain passed the order upon a Writ petition filed by the two leaders.

Inconsistency in ICT Act and Rules: HC observed

BLHouse Report

The High Court yesterday (December 15) rejected a petition filed by four top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for quashing proceedings of the cases filed against them with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The HC passed the judgment with some observations that include "there is inconsistency between the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 and the rules, made under this Act in 2010", said lawyers.

War crime ICT directive sought to nab SQ Chowdhury

BLHouse Report

The war crimes investigation agency yesterday filed a petition with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) seeking its directive to arrest Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, an war crime accused and BNP leader.

Hearing on the petition is likely to be held on December 19, the Tribunal sources said.

The investigators filed the petition 'through the prosecutors' with the Registrar of the Tribunal.

HC stays polls of 6 municipals

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The High Court on December 15 stayed the process of holding elections of six municipalities – four in Cox's Bazaar, one in Netrakona and another in Madaripur – for one month.
The orders were passed on Wednesday by two separate benches.

Justice Matin to be retired remaining on leave

BLHouse Report

A farewell of Appellate Division Justice MA Matin was held yesterday (December 15) at the Supreme Court in absence of Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, sources said.

Justice MA Matin, who are on leave from when he was superseded in appointing Justice ABM Khairul Haque as the Chief Justice in September this year, is likely going to retirement remaining on the leave, sources in the SC said.

Disclose wealth of Mujib family: JAF

BLHouse Report

Leaders of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum yesterday (December 15) demanded disclosure of wealth statement of the family of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

At a protest meeting in the Supreme Court, the JAF leaders Awami League should be respectful to BNP as AL was revived for introducing multiparty democracy by the BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

No ship shall enter Bangladesh for scrapping without env & toxic waste-free certificates.

Dhaka, Dec 15 (UNB)

The High Court on December 15 ruled that no ship shall enter the Bangladesh territory for scrapping without having environmental and toxic waste-free certificates.

A division bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Sheikh M Zakir Hossain gave the ruling upon a supplementary petition to the original writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA).