Two female students of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University are among the 103 recommended as assistant judges in the 15th Bangladesh Judicial Service (BJS) examination.  They are Sumaiya Jannat and Tania Akhter, students of the 2015-16 academic year of the University's Department of Law and Justice.  This result was published in the notice signed by Sharif AN Reza Zaker, District and Sessions Judge Examination Controller of Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission on Tuesday, January 24.  Sumaiya Jannat is ranked 58th and Tania Akhtar is ranked 93rd in order of merit. They were the first batch students of Department of Law and Justice.

Pakistan’s former Senator Usman Khan Kakar of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) died on June 23, 2021 in a private hospital in Karachi. In a report of Dawn, Usman’s family members and the leaders of PkMAP have alleged that, he was murdered under a conspiracy. They demanded an inquiry into the matter by a judicial commission. Considering the allegation, the Balochistan Government has formed a judicial commission to probe the death of the former Senator At the time of his death, it was reported by Information-Secretary PkMAP Reza Mohammad Reza said that Kakar was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Karachi after a fall, reported Geo News. Former Deputy Chairman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Salim Mandviwalla said Kakar's son and other family members told him at the hospital in Karachi that they want to find out the actual cause of death and whether he has been murdered, reported Geo News. The PPP senator said that the surgeon, who had come from Quetta, told him that the kind of head injury and blood clotting that was seen in Kakar's head "is not possible from falling down", reported Geo News. He said his family members want his post-mortem and that he was alone at home at that time of the incident. The actual cause of death will be declared in a pathology report, for which several samples were collected from the body. After the completion of the autopsy, Kakar's body was handed over to his family to carry out the burial. Kakar's family said that they will get the pathological samples counter-checked, reported Geo News. Source: ANI BM

The judicial inquiry team has visited the spot at Sylhet MC College dormitory where the incident of gang rape took place. The four member team reached the dormitory in the afternoon on Thursday. The team visited different halls including the newly constructed building of the dormitory. They collected different information and evidence of the rape incident. Earlier they held meeting with the principal of the institution. Then they went to the dormitory. The inquiry team is headed by Sylhet district and sessions judge Md. Bazlur Rahman. The other members of the team are- metropolitan magistrate Md. Abul Kashem, additional metropolitan sessions judge Mominun Nesa and additional deputy commissioner Sharmin Sultana. The High Court on September 29 ordered to form the inquiry committee to find out the culprits in connection with the crime. The committee was asked to submit report within 15 days. Mentionable, a young woman fell victim of gang rape at the MC College dormitory in the night of September 25. Later police rescued her and admitted at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. On the following day victim’s husband filed a case with Shahparan police station mentioning six named and three unnamed accused. So far police have arrested eight persons in this connection. AH  

The Supreme Court Special Committee for Judicial Reforms has laid out a set of guidelines for judicial officials about using social media. They have been asked to shun social media during office hours (9:30am-4:30pm) and follow eight directives and avoid doing 11 things while using social media platforms. The Supreme Court issued a circular on Sunday to this end. Reports UNB. Violation of these directives will be treated as ‘misconduct’ and in that case ‘Bangladesh Judicial Service (Discipline) Rules, 2017’ and others laws will be applicable, the SC warned. The committee observed that an excessive use of social media leads to a sort of addiction which, in turn, negatively affects personal and professional life.  Things to follow Officials have been asked to be careful while selecting writings, pictures, audio and videos for publishing them on social media.  The SC has suggested not sharing unnecessary or unimportant status or post, and ensuring authenticity and reliability of information to be published.  The judicial officials have been asked to be very careful and judgmental while exchanging and publishing personal and family information. The court says there might be a portal or group for judiciary officials where they can exchange under-trial issues, academic discussion on legal issues except personal things.  The officials have been directed to abide by state rules and act with responsibility while using social media.  They have to be careful about choosing friends and exchanging information on social media. They have also been asked not to accept friend request from persons related to trial or cases. Eleven things to be avoided  Supreme Court Special Committee for Judicial Reforms directs judicial officials to avoid mandatorily eleven things while using social media.  They must remain away from expressing or publishing information, comments or feelings against national unity and spirit, comments that might hurt religious sentiments, information related to political ideology, information that discriminates and humiliates any community, any individual, institution and the state, gender-discriminatory information or feelings, information, feelings and comments that may create public annoyance and unpleasant attitude and personal feelings related to any trial and over any decision taken by controlling and proper authorities. The judicial officials must refrain from sharing images or video clips of justices of the Supreme Court and avoid sharing, publishing and tagging others in irrelevant, unnecessary, humiliating and anti-ethical status, post, link and picture. AH

A Canadian Federal Court on September 17 allowed a judicial review plea filed by Bangladesh against Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship’s decision not to disclose immigration status of Bangabandhu’s killer Nur Chowdhury in that country. “This court’s judgment is that the application for judicial review is allowed, with costs,” said Justice James W O’Reilly of Federal Court of Ottawa, Ontario. According to the case documents, Bangladesh has been in discussions with Canadian officials since 2010 about Chowdhury’s status in Canada and has expressed concern about the delay relating to his pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) application. In 2018, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh wrote to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship requesting that he invoke his powers under s 8(2) (m)(i) of the Privacy Act, RSC 1985, P-21,to disclose, in the public interest, information about the status of Chowdhury’s PRRA application and his immigration status in Canada. But the Canadian minister refused the Bangladesh envoy’s request on the basis that the requirements had not been met, and that there was no information-sharing agreement between Bangladesh and Canada. The High Commissioner sought to achieve a limited information-sharing agreement with Canada, but the minister refused again, prompting Bangladesh to seek judicial review of the Minister’s decision to refuse to disclose the status of Chowdhury’s PRRA application. Bangladesh in the case argued that the Canadian Minister “applied the wrong test.” In particular, Bangladesh maintained that the minister failed to consider the public interest in disclosure. In addition, Bangladesh submitted that the minister’s reasons for refusing its request were inadequate. The court in its observation said, “Bangladesh’s application for judicial review should be allowed because the minister failed to give serious consideration to the public interest that would be served if the information sought were disclosed.” Source: BSS AH

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern as the results turned questionable and controversial following allegation of code of conduct violation including applying force and loss of 19 lives. Besides, the organization has demanded for judicial inquiry over the incident of Representation of People Order (RPO) violation throughout the country including Dhaka known through mass media. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman upheld this demand in a statement on Monday. He said, we demanded that level playing grounds be created for all stakeholders from the beginning. However, news of attacks, repression and lawsuits intended to harass the candidates and their supporters of a contending alliance as reported by the national and international media is an ominous sign for democracy. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, such harassment allegedly continued even the night before and day of elections. The most worrying fact is that people might lose their confidence on the system of democracy. He said, the way the Chief Election Commissioner tried to shrug off the allegations regarding the polling agents of an alliance is embarrassing and the concern has deepened whether the commission could effectively carry out its constitutional duty. He also said, the negative incidents like violation of RPO happened even in the capital in the name of lunch time break in the election. The way it was published in the local and international media in the reports that cannot be said as propaganda. Besides, leaving the spot with box fill up with ballot papers before the voting starts, running short of ballot papers before casting votes of many voters, assaulting candidate in the vote center-TIB thinks that these incidents need immediate investigations.     Iftekharuzzaman said, Ensuring justice through a judicial probe of the allegations will be of immense value for the credibility, self-confidence and public trust of a government that is being formed in the wake of an unprecedented outcome of an unprecedented election. AH    

BNP on Monday demanded a high-profile judicial investigation into the ‘extrajudicial’ killings carried out by law enforcers during the ongoing anti-narcotic drive. “Innocent people have been killed in the name of anti-narcotic drive. We want those involved in the killings to be put on trial,” said BNP vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman.  Speaking at a discussion, he further said, “We think a judicial probe body, headed by an Appellate Division judge, should be formed to investigate the killings.” The BNP leader said the family members of those subjected to ‘extrajudicial’ killings will not get justice if the investigation is done by magistrates or the administration. Jatiyatabadi Prajanma’ 71 arranged the program at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 37th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Reports UNB. About the killing of Teknaf Municipality Councilor Ekramul Haque, Noman said many innocent people like him were killed on political ground. He said human rights bodies at home and abroad have become vocal against the ‘extrajudicial’ killings urging the government to stop it.  “Such killing is a sin and unlawful and inhuman act in a democratic society.” The BNP leader said the government will make its all-out efforts to hold the next polls keeping their chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail as it is seriously afraid of her. Under the circumstances, he said, BNP must intensify the party’s movement to have Khaleda freed from jail. “Let’s wage a movement together to restore democracy, ensure a credible election and release our leader Khaleda Zia.” AH

Expressing concern over the extra judicial killings, ten eminent citizens of the country have urged to stop it. In a statement on Saturday signed by Sammilito Sangskritik Jote general secretary Hasan Arif they said, we understand the logicality of ongoing anti narcotic drive throughout the country. There are hardly some families who can survive from the gruesomeness of drugs. For that reason the all out support from all level of people was expected. But we are witnessing with a grave concern that a number of people everyday are being victims of extra judicial killings. Which are being termed as ‘gunfight’. This type of deaths is totally unacceptable in a democratic state or social system. The rights of life that our constitution has provided cannot be taken away in such a manner. Some sensational information was published in different media and social media about the slain victims. There was no prior allegation of drug related activities against Akramul Haque, the slain municipal councilor of Teknaf. The municipal mayor has protested the killing. Akram’s family members also unveiled telephone conversation before the killing took place in a press conference. Which is unimaginable in a democratic state and society. This is enough to raise question against the whole operation and to be panicked. They also urged to drive away fear from the minds of people through judicial investigation to the killings and to deliver the right information. The signatories are: Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman, Prof Hasan Azizul Haque, Ramendru Majumder, Ataur Rahman, Mamunur Rashid, Nirmolendu Gun, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, Mofidul Hoque, Golam Quddus and Hasan Arif.     AH

Thousands of people protested across Poland Friday evening after members of the Polish parliament from the ruling party gave initial backing to controversial bills to reform the judiciary. Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of draft laws on the reform of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and the Supreme Court (SN), holding banners saying "I love freedom over everything." Hundreds of demonstrators in the capital city of Warsaw gathered in front of the Presidential Palace, shouting the slogan "free courts, free elections, free Poland." According to the organizers of the protest, people have gathered in front of the courts in more than 100 Polish cities on Friday, and 19 protests will take place in 123 places afterwards, including in foreign cities such as Chicago, Dublin, Copenhagen, London, Zagreb and others across the world. Polish President Andrzej Duda prepared his own bills on the KRS and the SN following his vetoes in July of an earlier version of bills drafted by the ruling Law and Justice party. With more than three months of negotiations, Duda and the ruling party tweaked the presidential bills in order to strike an agreement on the ultimate shape of the reforms. The Polish Sejm (lower house) held the first reading of the presidential bills on Thursday, and sent the acts for further processing to its Justice and Human Rights Committee on Friday. The committee is tasked with working on the SN and KRS drafts next week, with the second reading of the bills provisionally scheduled for Dec. 6. The Polish government has been preparing judicial reforms for several months, igniting controversies among Polish citizens and foreign institutions.