Ban ends on journalists

A ban on journalists, covering the heated hearing of Dhaka-10 parliamentary by-poll case, was lifted on Monday, 31st May with an intervention by Chief lustice Syed IR Modassir Husain. Following the intervention of the chief justice, the journalists who had earlier protested such ban, entered the court room of the Supreme Court to cover the full-court bench hearing of the case which began Monday. Earlier on a Special Bench of the Appellate Division banned newspersons from the hearing of the petition filed by returning officer (RO) of the Dhaka-10 parliamentary by-polls against the High Court order that stayed all election proceedings in the constituency until 12Iune.

- New Age, 01 June.

Charge sheet in Ctg arms haul case soon

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inquiring into the sensational arms haul in Chittagong may have to submit its charge sheet in hurry without delving into details due to legal process and time constraints. The CID, Chittagong zone, in its recent report prayed to the additional inspector general of the CID seeking more time to carry out a full-length investigation before submitting charge sheet. But it was turned down as per rigidity of law. For that the charge sheet in arms haul is to be submitted by lune 10 next, even though the full facts in the case might not be unearthed by then and the perpetrators brought to justice.

- New Age, 0 June..

20 killed by law enforcers last month

Law enforcers killed as many as 20 people across the country last month. This was revealed by a report of Odhikar, a coalition for human rights. In its report Odhikar said that nine people were killed in police custody during the time. It said five journalists were injured and two others assaulted in May while 19 others were threatened and six others implicated in cases. The report also said that political violence left 48 killed and 200

injured. Police arrested 47 for their alleged implication in the violence. The Odhikar report said 101 children were tortured in May. Of them, 33 were killed, 21 raped, 17 abducted and 10 went missing, eight smuggled out, four suffered acid burns, and five committed suicide. As many as 62 women were raped last month and of them four were killed after rape while two others committed suicide. At least 18 women were reportedly victimised for dowry and of them 15 were killed while two others were tortured and one abducted, the report mentioned. The report also revealed that at least 31 people received acid burns in the month of May2004.

- Daily Star, 02 June.

By-polls of Dhaka-10 stayed

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, 2nd lune has rejected the petition the Election Commission filed against the High Court (HC) stay order on Dhaka-10 parliamentary by-polls, ending the prospect of lune 6 election to the seat. The Supreme Court full bench headed by Chief lustice Syed IR Modassir Husain upheld the stay order on the high-profile election symbol dispute after three days of hearing. The bench directed both parties to move to the High Court which will now hold a hearing on lune 12 on its rule upon the Election Commission and the returning officer (RO).

-Daily Star, 03 June..

Legal notice on govt against troops to Iraq

A "demand of justice notice" has been issued on the government asking it not to enter into any contract with the United States on sending Bangladeshi troops to Iraq without any UN resolution and

approval of the latiya Sangsad. The legal notice, served upon defence secretary, foreign secretary, cabinet secretary and principal secretary to the Prime Minister, came ahead of Saturday's arrival of US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld on his first visit to Bangladesh reportedly to discuss the contentious troop issue. Bangladesh has so far refused to send its peacekeeping troops to Iraq without UN sanction. Advocate Asaduzzaman issued the notice on behalf of Farhad Mazhar and Farida Akhter of UBINIG. "Any such step will be a clear violation of the Constitution, the Army Act 1952 and the UN Charter," said the notice asking the government to reply to the notice within three days. Bangladesh so far refused to send its peacekeeping troops to troubled Iraq without UN sanction.

-New Age, 04 June.

SP arrested for offering bribe

A special superintendent of police (SP)) has been arrested for offering bribe to State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar. Muhammad Abdul Baten, special SP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police, offered to bribe the minister to have an order for his transfer to Khagrachhari cancelled. But The accused has refuted the allegation of bribing and told that it was a conspiracy against him. Police said SP Baten, who received the transfer order just two days ago, entered Babar's office at the Secretariat on the plea of having a talk with him. He then put a packet containing money on the table, requested Babar to accept it and cancel his transfer order. He also told the minister that he wanted to remain posted in Dhaka since he is due to retire in about 16 months' time.

-Daily Star, 04 June.