Archive for February 3rd, 2010
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed two petitions contesting the High Court verdict that declared the constitution's fifth amendment illegal.In so doing, it upholds the historic HC judgment delivered around four and a half years back.Chief Justice Md Tafazzul Islam pronounced the one-line ruling at 10:00am. In a courtroom filled to the brim, he read, “The petitions are dismissed with modification and observations."On August 29, 2005, the bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice ATM Fazle Kabir declared the fifth amendment illegal.The verdict meant the governments between August 15, 1975, and April 9, 1979, were in power without ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010The law minister and the attorney general have said the original spirit of the Liberation War and the four principles of the 1972 Constitution have been restored following yesterday's order on the Fifth Amendment by the Supreme Court."Democracy", "socialism", "secularism" and "nationalism" were the four principles of the state as per the 1972 Constitution.The petitioners' counsels advocate TH Khan and Barrister Moudud Ahmed have meanwhile said the SC has "accepted and considered" their arguments and submissions, as the apex court has rejected their petitions with some modifications and observations.They claim the SC did not fully uphold the High Court ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010The fifth amendment ratified all actions including those that destroyed the basic character of the country's constitution and made it subordinate to martial law proclamations, orders and regulations made during around four years after August 15, 1975.Amendments, additions, modifications, substitutions and omissions were indiscriminately made to the constitution during the martial law regime that began immediately after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on that day.These actions changed the fundamental principles of state policy, destroyed the secular character of the constitution, allowed politics based on religion, and provided political rights to the anti-Liberation War forces and war criminals.Besides, ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010To summarise, we hold:1. Bangladesh is a Sovereign Democratic Republic, governed by the Government of laws and not of men.2. The Constitution of Bangladesh being the embodiment of the will of the Sovereign People of the Republic of Bangladesh, is the supreme law and all other laws, actions and proceedings, must conform to it and any law or action or proceeding, in whatever form and manner, if made in violation of the Constitution, is void and non est.3. The Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary are the three pillars of the Republic, created by the Constitution, as such, are bound ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Parliament had hurriedly passed the Constitution (Fifth Amendment) Act, 1979, ratifying and confirming all martial law proclamations, regulations and orders, and other laws made between August 15, 1975 and April 9, 1979.Constituted through the general election of 1979, the first session of the then new parliament was convened on April 1, 1979.The parliament dominated by then newly-created BNP, led by military ruler Ziaur Rahman, who first assumed the office of chief martial law administrator and later the office of the president, passed the amendment act on April 6, 1979, declaring that all actions to have been made legally.The fifth ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar was shown arrested yesterday in the case filed in connection with the assassination of former finance minister and Awami League leader SAMS Kibria on January 27, 2005.A judicial magistrate's court in Habiganj yesterday passed an order to show Babar arrested in the Kibria killing case following an appeal by the Criminal Investigation Department.CID's Assistant Superintendent of Police Rafiqul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, prayed for a 10-day remand to interrogate Babar.Senior Judicial Magistrate Shamsul Islam, however, asked the authorities concerned to produce Babar before the court on February 11 ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Border markets will open on a pilot basis between Bangladesh and India on Pahela Baishakh, the Bangla New Year, to facilitate trade between the two countries' people living in remote frontier areas.Primarily, three border points have been selected for the markets which will be set up encompassing 50 metres of areas on both sides of the border from respective zero points.The markets will be set up at the border points between Sonarhat under Goain Ghat in Sylhet and Linkhat in India; between Lawar Ghar under Taherpur upazila in Sunamganj and Kalia Char in India; and between Balia Bari ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010The BNP Parliamentary Party sits tomorrow to discuss the main opposition party's possible return to the House in the ongoing session.Lawmakers of the BNP-led four-party alliance are likely to take the decision on returning to the House at the meeting with party chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia in the chair, party leaders said."The meeting is scheduled for Thursday," Joint Secretary General of BNP Mahbubuddin Khokon told The Daily Star yesterday evening.While talking to The Daily Star, a number of party lawmakers hinted that they would join the ongoing session just after the meeting at Sangsad ...
(read more) Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Water Resources Minister Romesh Chandra Sen yesterday admitted in parliament that requisite quantity of water is not available in the river Teesta in dry season.He told the House that Bangladesh would continue discussion with India on priority basis to strike a deal on Teesta water sharing during October-April dry season.Earlier yesterday, Romesh Chandra said a ministerial-level meeting of Joint Rivers Commission between Bangladesh and India would be held by March 20.He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on "Climate Change Impact on the Haor, Wetland and Environment" organised by Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board at ...
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