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Gram Sarkar illegal
The High Court declared Gram Sarkar Act 2003 "illegal and unconstitutional." A High Court division bench pronounced the verdict on a writ petition filed on July 6, 2003 by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast). Challenging the act, the Blast petition said the law was framed without lawful authority. The government will appeal against the verdict, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told newsmen last night. Since the law was enacted two years ago, the coalition government constituted 39,786 Gram Sarkar units with the target to form 40,392 such nonelected bodies -- which neither serve as part of the administration or the local government.
All the Gram Sarkar units were formed through selection, comprising the supporters and activists of the ruling parties. In this year's budget, the government allocated Tk 60 crore for Gram Sarkars each of which has 13 members plus a headman and an adviser. In the verdict, the court observed that legally Gram Sarkar was formed as a supporting organisation for the union parishad (UP) and not as part of administration or local government. This legal premise is self-contradictory and appears to be very dubious. -The Daily Star, August 3.
Developers violating environmental norms Economists and urban planners at a discussion blamed real estate developers for wearing a stern commercial attitude, violating environment norms especially by filling up lowlands, and not considering the issues of parking space and convenience of neighbours during building construction.
This unplanned urbanisation is making Dhaka city vulnerable to hazards like waterlogging, traffic jam and environment degradation, they said at the discussion on "Planned Urbanisation and Housing Industry" organised jointly by the Shaptahik 2000 and Shah Cement at the Jatiya Press Club. Noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad questioned the source of income of the buyers of expensive apartments, citing an example that the Rehab (Real Estate Housing Association of Bangladesh) officials and apartment owners did not once agree to provide his students with information for a survey on the status of the apartment buyers. The financial statements of the developers should be made public and available for inspection, Prof Muzaffer, president of the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, demanded at the discussion. -Prothom Alo, August 3.
Unusual Voter Rise
EC pays no heed to EU allegation
The European Union's allegation about the unusual rise of around one crore voters on the list prepared in 2000 for the last parliamentary election of 2001 has remained unresolved for the last two years as the Election Commission (EC) shelved it to avoid controversy.
After receiving the allegation on September 23, 2003 the EC discussed the matter on several occasions but could not find any way to resolve it. Nor did the EC respond to the European Union (EU) about the allegation, sources said. "We have shelved the allegation as the list was prepared three years ago. We would have to revise the voter list if the Election Commission wanted to probe the allegation," a senior official told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity. Some officials at the EC secretariat also believe there was duplication and triplication of a number of voters, which is why the number of increased voters has been questioned. They fear that the same might happen while preparing the voter list for the next parliamentary election unless the officials at the field levels are aware of such inclusion. -The Daily star, August 4.
Introduce capital punishment for dishonest traders
A Dhaka-based rights organisation demanded introduction of capital punishment for dishonest traders responsible for the adulteration of food items and mixing toxic chemicals with fruits, fishes and vegetables. A law to this effect should be passed in parliament in order to safeguard the lives of the people, said Abu Naser, president of Paribesh Bachao Andolon, terming such traders the enemy of the nation. He placed the demand at a press conference organised by the Citizens' Rights Movement (CRM) at the National Press Club in the city.
The leaders of the organisation also demanded introduction of the 'Consumers' Right Act' which was drafted in 1992. They called on the government to continue the mobile court operation against adulterated food and unhygienic conditions in food factories. The mobile court led by a metropolitan magistrate has recently launched a crackdown on food shops, restaurants and hotels selling adulterate food items and preparing foods in unhygienic environment. Unscrupulous traders always mix toxic chemicals with fishes, meats, fruits and vegetables and harmful colours with food items, which poses serious health hazards, said the leaders at the press conference. -The Daily Star, August 4.