A New Zealand man who endured a 19-year imprisonment due to a wrongful conviction is slated to receive an unprecedented compensation of nearly NZ$5 million (approximately $3 million, or €2.76 million), as confirmed by the government on Friday. In 1986, Alan Hall was found guilty of the murder of Arthur Easton and the intentional injury of Arthur's son, Brendon Easton. He was given a life sentence, but his conviction was overturned in 2022. In light of the miscarriage of justice, the government has committed to a compensation sum of NZ$4,933,725, as redress for the years Hall spent unjustly incarcerated, New Zealand's acting Justice Minister, Deborah Russell said. How did Hall end up in prison? There was no forensic evidence connecting Hall to the location, and the perpetrator was reported to possess different characteristics in terms of height and ethnicity. Despite this, Hall was convicted. After serving a portion of his sentence, Hall was granted parole in 1994. In 2012, he was reincarcerated due to violations of his parole terms. He was finally released and exonerated last year. "The government acknowledges Mr. Hall's innocence and offers an unreserved apology for the erroneous convictions and wrongful imprisonment he endured," Russell said.  How did Hall end up in prison? "While I recognize that the apology and compensation cannot entirely rectify the profound injustice Mr. Hall suffered, my hope is that they will serve as a measure to aid Mr. Hall in reconstructing his life and facilitate his pursuit of personal aspirations," she added. Hall family releases statement In a released statement, the Hall family expressed the significance of the government's recognition of Alan Hall's innocence. They highlighted the dedicated efforts of Alan's mother, Shirley, who fought for years to clear his name.  "Alan's mother Shirley, his greatest champion, fought for decades to hear those words. That she is not present today to hear them finally spoken makes this moment bittersweet," the family said. Hall's family said they were relieved the fight to clear his name was over. "Alan was 24 when he was arrested. He is now 61. With the announcement today, Alan can now focus on what was denied to him for decades, building his life as a free man." The Hall family further extended their acknowledgment to the Easton family and expressed hope that ongoing investigations will ultimately unearth the truth regarding Arthur's death, holding the accountable parties responsible for their actions.

The High Court has ordered to compensate jute mill worker Jahalam Taka 15 lakh within one month who was in jail for three years after being convicted in 26 cases filed by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) though he was innocent. The High Court bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Qamrul Kader passed the order on Wednesday. During the hearing lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC while lawyer Anisul Hasan stood for the BRAC Bank Limited and Barrister Sheikh Md. Zakir Hossain was for the Sonali Bank. The hearing completed over the rule on February 12. The case was in the cause list for verdict on Tuesday. But ACC, Sonali Bank and BRAC Bank took part in the hearing for them on that day. Then the court fixed the time 2 pm today for delivering the verdict. In January last year a national daily published a report on Jahalam issue. The matter was upheld before the court by Supreme Court lawyer Amit Dasgupta. Then the High Court bench summoned four persons including ACC official and plaintiff of the case to deliver explanation and issued rule. Mentionable, there are 33 cases including more than 18 crore taka forgery from Sonali Bank against Abu Salek. But instead of Abu Salek jute mill worker Jahalam was in jail for three years and still is being produced before the court. AH    

The High Court summoned Bangladesh Railway Director General (DG) Md. Amzad Hossain to appear before it for not complying with its earlier directives to compensate child Jihad’s family. He was asked to appear before court on August 14. The High Court bench of Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order on Tuesday over contempt of court petition filed by Children Charity Bangladesh Foundation. Lawyer Abdul Halim stood for the petitioner and lawyer Monira Zaman took part in the hearing for Bangladesh Railway. Lawyers Abdul Halim said, family of ill fated child Jihad was not provided the amount of compensation following court directives. Several notices were given after the month of February. For this reason complain of contempt of court was filed. The court delivered the order after hearing. Jihad fell into an unprotected several hundred feet deep well shaft at Shahjahanpur Railway colony on December 26, 2014. His dead body was recovered on the following day. Following the incident, Children Charity Bangladesh Foundation on December 28, 2014 filed a writ seeking compensation for Jihad’s family. After hearing the High Court on February 18, 2016 delivered the verdict. In the verdict the court ordered Bangladesh Railway and Fire Service and Civil Defense Authority each to pay family of Jihad the sum of 10 lakh taka, total 20 lakh taka within 90 days. But both the authorities failed to compensate. AH     

At the end of the match, Iceland walks over to the corner of the stadium where its jubilant fans are celebrating like they’ve won. Argentina’s players wandered off with their hands on their hips, heads down. Only at the World Cup do two teams each score a goal and come away with a point and one team celebrates and the other acts as though there has been a death in the family. And obviously Iceland becomes the smallest country ever to get a point at the World Cup. Argentina took the lead at 19th minute with a spectacular goal from Sergio Aguero. It was his first goal in the world cup. But the joy of Argentine fans did not last for long. Just after four minutes Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogasson sent the ball to the net of Argentina with a trick from the D-box. The two teams went into the half time with 1-1 score. Into the second half Iceland took their defensive stance. Argentine shook the defense of Iceland with attack one after another. But Iceland’s goal keeper strongly gave response to the Argentine forwards. On the 63rd minute Argentina got a penalty. But Icelandic goalkeeper denied Lionel Messi from scoring goal from the spot kick. Then after the defensive strategy of Iceland made the way for a 1-1 draw against two time world cup champion Argentina when referee whistled the end of the game with 5 minutes extra time.            Argentina first  XI: Wilfredo Caballero, Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Maximiliano Meza, Lionel Messi (capt), Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero Iceland first XI: Hannes Halldorsson, Hordur Magnusson, Kari Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Birkir Savarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Aron Gunnarsson (capt), Johann Gudmundsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason AH

The court has ordered to compensate one crore taka to Rajib’s family. Rajib was the unfortunate honors second year student of Government Titumir College who lost his hand following rivalry between two buses in the capital few days back. The High Court bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque on Tuesday ordered BRTC and owner of Swajan Paribahan to compensate one crore taka to the victim’s family members. Supreme Court Lawyer Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal filed the writ petition on April 8 after publishing the news of the accident. After the hearing the court issued rule including interim directions. The rule was issued asking to know why the family members of Rajib will not be compensate one crore taka. Besides, the High Court also ordered the BRTC authority and owner of Swajan Paribahan to bear the expense of Rajib’s treatment. But Rajib succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment on April 16. On April 3, Rajib was heading to his home on a BRTC double decker bus on the back door. When the bus reached at Hotel Sonargaon intersection, another bus of Swajan Paribahan from behind over took it keeping no distance. At that time Rajib’s hand was cut off from the body following pressure of two buses. The pedestrians then took him to a nearby hospital. Later he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Rajib was an orphan. He was eldest among three brothers. He was associated with part time job of computer type writer and managed money for expense of education for his two brothers. AH     

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the Director and a physician of the Impact Masudul Haque Memorial Community Health Centre (IMHMCHC) in Chuadanga to explain why they should not be directed to give one crore taka each in compensation for 20 people who lost their eyesight following surgery at the health centre on March 5. Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Mohammad Shahin, who reportedly conducted the eye surgery to 20 poor people, have been asked to give the explanation in two weeks. In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government and IMHMCHC to show cause why inaction of Hasib and Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations of the mass people should not be declared illegal. The court in the rule also asked the authorities to come up with an answer why legal action should not be taken against Hasib and Shahin for their reported misdeed and negligence in conducting unsafe eye operations during a three-day eye camp. The bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Amit Das Gupta. Advocate Amit Das Gupta submitted the petition as a public interest litigation praying to the High Court to direct the IMHMCHC’s director and its doctor Md Shahin, who conducted the surgeries, to pay compensation to the 20 victims. The Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of the Directorate of the Health Services, Civil Surgeon of Chuadanga, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Chuadanga, Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud its physician Shahin have been made respondents to the rule. In the petition, Advocate Amit urged the court to order the authorities concerned to take legal action against the health centre and the physician for their reported mistreatment and negligence in conducting unsafe eye operations during a three-day eye camp. The petitioner also urged the High Court to issue a rule upon the respondents to show cause why inaction of the health centre and Dr Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations of the mass people should not be declared illegal. A report was published in a national daily mentioning that 20 people lost their eye sight following the surgeries on March 5 as the authorities did not take appropriate safety measures. AH