Court contempt ordinance okayed

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The Council of Advisers at a meeting yesterday gave final approval to the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2008.

According to a provision of the ordinance, any objective report, information and comments made regarding normal activity of the court as well as constructive criticism of final verdict of the court would not be treated as contempt of court.

According to a provision, willingly or by writing or verbally or in sign or indication or through any visible medium violation of any verdict, decree, order, writ or warrant of a court, campaigning ill propaganda against any judge concerned on the subject during discharging responsibilities as judge, affecting the normal course of trial process will be treated as contempt of court.

The punishment for contempt of court is simple imprisonment for maximum six months or Tk 2,000 fine, or both.

“If anybody accused of court of contempt applies for unconditional pardon during proceedings of the case and if the court is satisfied, it can relieve the accused person of the accusation. The court can also reduce or waive punishment of the accused if the accused prays for unconditional pardon,” says the contempt-of-court law

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed chaired the meeting.

The council also approved amendment to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act 1980 to make it up-to-date for control and registration of medical profession as well as ensuring its accountability.

Out of total 34 sections, amendments were brought to 15 sections of the Act.

As per provision of the amended act, if any physician prescribes unapproved or banned medicine, they would be fined Tk 20,000 or awarded imprisonment, or both.

Any person, without being registered, cheats as physician and who encourages it would be imprisoned for two years or be fined Tk 50,0000, or both.

The meeting also gave final approval to the Government Attorney Service Ordinance 2008 to give permanence to the service of the government pleaders as presently government lawyers for criminal and civil courts are being appointed on temporary basis, mainly politically, which causes loss in government cases after change of government .

The attorney service has been divided into two Branches–Supreme Court branch and District branch.

The meeting also approved a proposal for signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bangladesh and Oman on export of manpower to protect the rights Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf country.

A team led by the Foreign Adviser will go to Oman on May 10 when the MoU will be signed, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, who was present at the meeting.

It has been informed that in the first three months of the current year, 11,500 Bangladeshi workers have been recruited by Oman.

Presently some 1.75 lakh Bangladeshis are working in that country.

The manpower recruitment in Oman from Bangladesh remained stalled for 12 years since 1996 and resumed in November 2007. The manpower recruitment started in 1976.

Members of the Advisory Council attended the meeting at the CA’s office. Cabinet Secretary and Secretaries concerned were also present.

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