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LAW WEEK
EC unveils new list of constituencies
The Election Commission (EC) unveiled the new district-wise list of constituencies with 18 districts seeing either an Increase or a decrease in the number of seats representing them in parliament. According to the list, Dhaka has now 20 electoral areas, up from 13. The new seven seats would be earmarked for the metropolitan areas considering the high density of population. The number of scats in Dhaka division, however, has risen by only four to 94 from 90 as four districts--Faridpur, Kishoreganj, Manikganj and Munshiganj- each lost a constituency Chittagong, Barisal and Khulna divisions--all have seen a decrease in the number of their constituencies. Chittagong has been allocated 58 seats against its previous 59, Barisal 21 against 23 and Khulna has got 34 against its previous 37 seats. The number of parliamentary slots in Sylhet (19 scats) and Rajshahi divisions (72 scats) remain unchanged. Sirajganj under Rajshahi division lost a scat to Rajshahi City Corporation area Two constituencies--one lying between Mymensingh and Netrakona and the other between Pirojpurand Barisal -have been deleted from the parliamentary map. The EC has reallocated seats for the districts in line with the criteria set out in the delimitation ordinance. Besides making sure the administrative units remain intact, it considered density of population and administrative convenience in the reallocation. -The Daily Star. January 15.
Court orders trial of Hasina, Rehana, Selim
A Dhaka court framed charges against former premier Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in a Tk 2.99 crore extortion case. It also decided that trial of the case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury would begin very shortly. This is the first time charges have been framed against a former prime minister. Hasina, also president of Awami League (AL), however, protested her innocence and termed the case false and motivated. Of the three, Hasina and former health minister Selim are detained while Rehana, who lives in London, was indicted in absentia. Meeting her lawyers after the proceedings, Hasina demanded a national election by March-April. Earlier, standing in the dock, she said, “False cases were filed against me after I had refused to strike a deal with the government. Another reason was I never want a military dictator to assume power and become the country's president-" Addressing Judge Azizul Huq of Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge's Court, she said she knows he is helpless as "he has to follow dictates from some special places". Hasina made the comments when the judge asked her and Selim to say if they were guilty or not.- The Daily Star January 14.
Mirpur sizzles in death rumour
RMG workers clash with cops
Several thousand garment workers in the capital's Mirpur area clashed with police intermittently leaving at least 30 people injured and traffic obstructed for hours. Demonstrations for pay rise, medical facilities and immediate payment of arrears paralysed life and trade in the city's garment industry hub for the second consecutive day. Over 350 factories across Mirpur-10, Mirpur-13, Mirpur-14, Pallabi, Shcorapara, Kazi Para and adjacent areas remained closed fearing attacks by the workers. The same day, at least 20 more people were wounded in a fight between workers and police at Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Savar. Hundreds of workers protesting sudden closure of a garment factory there barricaded Kaliakoir-Nabinagar road for over an hour in the morning. Police filed six cases with Kafrul Police Station in connection with the workers' unrest in the capital. Of the cases, four were for violation of the emergency power rules and one for assault on the lawenforcers.-The Daily Star. January 16.
Necessity of emergency lessened
Newly appointed Law Adviser Hassan Ariff said the necessity for the state of emergency has lessened and that the regime would not be needed at all if normalcy prevails in the country. "The state of emergency was essential following the incidents preceding 1/11. ..Now its necessity is diminishing. We'll have to see whether normal condition prevails. If it does, emergency is not required," he told reporters at his ministry. Asked about transparency in former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s trial, Ariff, who is a former attorney general, said it is not true that transparency is ensured if a large number of people throng the court on trucks. And, he said, it is also equally not true that the presence of a few people would guarantee transparency. The law adviser said it is important to ensure whether the victim has faith in the trial proceedings and if the trial is fair. About detention of political leaders without specific cases, he said the detention should be deemed illegal if a higher court declares it so, adding that in every democracy there is such detention. "But it must be ensured thatitisnotmisused," hesaid. -Unb, Dhaka, January 16.
HC asks govt not to remand Tarique
The High Court (HC) directed the government not to take former premier Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman on police remand and quiz him instead at jail gate if it is necessary for investigation. The HC gave the decision after hearing Tarique's petition against placing him on a one-day remand Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ehsanul Haque had ordered on January 9 in a Tk 1.32 crore extortion case. Opposing Tarique's petition, the state counsel told the court that it was necessary to take Tarique on remand for the sake of the investigation and that the investigation would be hampered if he cannot be taken on remand. Tarique's counsels argued that he is ill and had been tortured during the earlier police remand. Tarique, also senior joint secretary of BNP, was once interrogated at jail gate, the counsels told the court, arguing that he may be interrogated at jail gate again if it is necessary. Meanwhile, the jail authorities yesterday took Tarique to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for some pathological tests. Deputy Inspector General (prison) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told The Daily Star that Tarique has been complaining about headache and pain in the neck. -The Daily Star, January 16.
IGP suggests raising fine for violating traffic rules
The inspector general of police (IGP) suggested heavy financial penalties for violating traffic rules in a bid to prevent drivers from committing traffic offences repeatedly. "At present, the rule breakers are fined as low as Tk 50 and so, they don't bother committing the offences again. But if the fine is increased to Tk 1000, they (rule breakers) will think twice before violating the traffic rules," IGP Nur Mohammad said. The police boss also observed that the nagging problem of traffic jam in the capital is not possible to fix within a short time and suggested adopting several short and long-term strategies to get rid of the menace. He made the observations while addressing a monthly luncheon meeting of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (Amcham) at a city hotel as the chief guest and speaker. Amcham President Syed Ershad Ahmed, Vice President TYevor MacDonald and Executive Director A Gafur addressed the meeting. The topic was Traffic jam in Dhaka city: Challenges and possible solution.' When a participant observed that the truck and bus drivers dare to violate traffic rules as the sergeants take bribes from them, the IGP said that the tendency is going down adding that the previous corrupt recruitment process is responsible for it. - The Daily Star, January 16.
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