Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, has been appointed as the head of the search committee responsible for forming the Election Commission. Additionally, senior High Court judge AKM Asaduzzaman has been selected as a committee member. The Cabinet Division issued the official notification on Tuesday (October 29) afternoon, following approval from Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Earlier that day, Dr. Asif Nazrul, the advisor for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, mentioned at the Secretariat that the search committee had already been formed. He added that the chief advisor had likely signed the notification and that it would be officially published either today or tomorrow. Nazrul further stated that once the search committee completes its work, the Election Commission will be formed, followed by a revision of the voter list. “We will not conduct any fraudulent elections. Our aim is to hold exceptional, free, and fair elections,” he assured. Background As per the recently passed law in the national parliament regarding the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners, the President is responsible for forming the search committee. This six-member committee is chaired by a judge from the Appellate Division, nominated by the Chief Justice. The committee will recommend 10 candidates after reviewing their qualifications and eligibility. From these, the President will select five members to constitute the new Election Commission. The search committee consists of: A judge from the Appellate Division (as chairperson), nominated by the Chief Justice. A judge from the High Court Division, also nominated by the Chief Justice. The Auditor General. The Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Two eminent citizens nominated by the President, one of whom must be a woman. A quorum for the committee’s meetings requires the presence of at least three members. The Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the President within 15 working days.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at 11am at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, witnessed by the president's wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, Cabinet members, former chief justices, judges of both the Appellate and High Court divisions, heads of the three services, principal secretary to the prime minister, the attorney general, and Supreme Court lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association leaders. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the ceremony. The president made the appointment as per Article 95 (1) of the Constitution on Thursday as the outgoing chief justice retired on the day. Hassan, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, was appointed the chief justice on September 12. Obaidul Hassan was appointed as an additional judge of the Supreme Court’s High Court Division in 2009 while his appointment was confirmed as a permanent judge in 2011. He was elevated as a judge in the Appellate Division on September 3, 2020. Hassan was born on January 1, 1959, at Chayashi village under Mohanganj upazila in Netrokona district to Dr Akhlaqul Hossain Ahmed and Begum Hosne Ara Hossain. Hassan was appointed as the chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2 on March 25, 2012 and in his capacity as the head of that court, also known as War Crimes Tribunal, until September 15, 2015, he pronounced 11 verdicts.  Source: UNB

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at 11am at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, witnessed by the president's wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, Cabinet members, former chief justices, judges of both the Appellate and High Court divisions, heads of the three services, principal secretary to the prime minister, the attorney general, and Supreme Court lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association leaders. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the ceremony. The president made the appointment as per Article 95 (1) of the Constitution on Thursday as the outgoing chief justice retired on the day. Hassan, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, was appointed the chief justice on September 12. Obaidul Hassan was appointed as an additional judge of the Supreme Court’s High Court Division in 2009 while his appointment was confirmed as a permanent judge in 2011. He was elevated as a judge in the Appellate Division on September 3, 2020. Hassan was born on January 1, 1959, at Chayashi village under Mohanganj upazila in Netrokona district to Dr Akhlaqul Hossain Ahmed and Begum Hosne Ara Hossain. Hassan was appointed as the chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2 on March 25, 2012 and in his capacity as the head of that court, also known as War Crimes Tribunal, until September 15, 2015, he pronounced 11 verdicts.  Source: UNB

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League (AL), Dr. Hasan Mahmud today (Wednesday) said that an information commission has been formed under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure free flow of information in the country. “Anyone can ask the government for any information through the commission. He or she will not get only the non-disclosed information. In this case, taking of confidential documents is wrong. The fair trial of Rozina Islam will be ensured in the incident of Health Ministry,” Hasan said. He said that if she wanted to get any information from the government, she had to apply to the ministry, but if it was not available in the ministry, she could apply to the information commission. “Since the formation of the Information Commission in 2014, one lakh 19 thousand 631 applications have been disposed till December 2020,” he said. The minister stated these as the chief guest while addressing the Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust cheques distribution ceremony at Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram Press Club (CPC) in Chattogram. Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) President Mohammad Ali presided over the function while Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Zafar Wazed, CPC President Ali Abbas, Vice President of BFUJ Riaz Haider Chowdhury, President of Dhaka Union of Journalists Quddus Afrad and General Secretary of CPC Chowdhury Farid, among others, addressed the function as special guests. Asking the journalists not to look at the issue of Rozina Islam emotionally, Dr Hasan said “Since a case has been filed, we are seeing the matter as she gets justice. Keep trust on the government.” Terming AL government a media-friendly one, Dr Hasan said that the Prime Minister and he himself are sincere and determined to uphold the dignity and honor of journalists. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that any minister in the country takes two oaths, one is the oath as a minister and the other is the oath to protect state secrecy. I also had to take that oath.” “Since I have taken an oath of protecting state secrecy, I cannot say anything outside the cabinet. I can only say what I am asked to say,” Hasan said. He said that it is the responsibility of any minister or ministry to preserve secret state documents or agreements with other countries, stealing of secret documents is wrong. Prime Minister Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina is determined to protect the dignity and honor of journalists and her Government will try to dispel any such matter, which can create a detachment with the journalists. “In this case, we must ensure that Rozina Islam will get justice. I have repeatedly spoken to the Minister of Health, Home Affairs and Law. I have been assured by the Home Minister to ensure that her dignity is protected in the custody of the police and that she gets maximum benefits in the custody of the jail,” Hasan said. According to the Ministry of Health, Rozina Islam took some non-discloser papers from the file. When she was challenged, she returned the papers. A case was filed against her and then handed over to the police. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that the question here is why she was detained there for five hours? Everyone has questions about it, the health ministry said they did not detain her for five hours, handed her to the police within an hour later. He said that the case is under investigation and the Ministry of Health has formed an inquiry committee. “It will come out whether there is any crime in the Ministry of Health after investigation,” he added. He said that there are many games with Bangladesh, our country is moving so far, it is far ahead of Pakistan, it has left India behind in many socio-economic indexes, that is not tolerated by many. “That is why conspiracies are being hatched against the country and attempts are made to create issues,” he said. Hassan said that hundreds of people were killed in Palestine and that the Amnesty International had not issued a statement on why nearly 100 children had been killed. “There are several other organizations that have not made a statement about what is happening in Palestine. Even the UN has taken seven days to speak, but many have spoken on the issue of Rozina Islam. So, I would like to request the journalist friends to have faith on the government, in this case the government is for justice,” he said. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy alleged that former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha got big amount of money from brother of Mir Quasem Ali, a death sentence convicted of anti humanitarian crimes and executed leader of Jamaat. His allegation came through a Facebook status on Sunday evening. Sajeeb Wazed said, I have got some information which is state of being anxious. Despicable former chief justice Sinha recently arrived in New York. There he secretly met war criminal Mir Quasem’s brother Mamun. We knew that he got big amount of money from Mamun. The money was given to him for speaking against our government. There are witnesses who watched and heard their conversation. He shared an article in the page mentioning that unfortunately, political conspiracy is a very common matter in our country. About the article he said, in the article it was upheld beautifully how the ‘wretched’ society would have responded if the conspiracy of 15th August, 1975 was a failed one. Sajeeb Wazed said, role of unknown and unpopular person is less for hatching conspiracy. To make a conspiracy success it needs somebody powerful or from high level like Sinha or Shahidul Alam. AH        

UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Yanghee Lee laid emphasis on "justice" for Rohingyas and holding perpetrators accountable seeking their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.  “Enough is enough. Justice is the key demand of Rohingyas I spoke to,” she said while responding to a question at a press conference in the capital on Sunday. Reports UNB. Asked about possibility of referring Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate atrocities committed against Rohingyas, Lee said there are two permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) who are friends of Myanmar. Without mentioning the names of the two countries, Lee said they might not make this happen. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein recently urged the UN Security Council to immediately refer Myanmar to the ICC so that all allegations of crimes against humanity and genocide perpetrated against the Rohingya as well as allegations of war crimes against other ethnic groups can be investigated.   He also requested that the Human Rights Council recommends to the General Assembly the establishment of a new international, impartial and independent mechanism, complementary to the Fact-Finding Mission to assist the criminal investigation of individual perpetrators. Lee said she has joined the call and she has made the call too but the UNSC has to refer to the ICC.  “This is why I am recommending accountability mechanism to be established immediately,” she said. Asked whether she communicated with China to facilitate her visit to Myanmar, she said Myanmar is a sovereign state and China is not the guardian of Myanmar. Lee said Rohingya people are going to stay here for longer period as the repatriation is unlikely to start anytime soon and this is so sadly because conditions are not conducive yet. She mentioned that the joint response plan is only 26 percent funded. She appealed to the donors to step up and provide the funding that is urgently needed to move to medium and longer term planning. Lee said the international community should not forget the host community in Cox’s Bazar who have been sharing their resources with Rohingyas.  The special envoy said she had asked the government of Bangladesh to facilitate a visit for her to see the conditions of the Bashanchar Island. “It was conveyed to me by the Bangladeshi officials that construction on the island is going on, and that my visit would only be possible after rainy season.” She said it is more than clear now unless the cycle of violence and persecutions is broken, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law will continue in Myanmar. “The enduring impunity must come to an end.”      Lee urged the international community to come together without delay and establish the mechanism at the Human Rights Council session in September. She said Rohingyas living in Bangladesh must be recognized as Rohingya refugees by all, including by host governments such as Bangladesh and they must be referred to as refugees in all public and private statements by all actors. The special envoy said accountability for the atrocities committed is urgently needed, and must be delivered. “Government of Myanmar has made no progress or showed any real will to dismantle the system of discrimination and make Rakhine State safe. The Rohingya refugees will not be returning to Myanmar in the near future,” Lee said. She laid emphasis on education for all, access to meaningful livelihood opportunities and vocational training and giving Rohingyas a dignified life. Lee bemoaned that the government of Myanmar continues to deny her access despite the call by the Human Rights Council for Myanmar to cooperate with her mandate. She said she requested India too on several occasions seeking permission to visit Rohingyas living in India but she did receive no reply. Lee wants to visit China too.  The special envoy is determined to reach out as much as possible to victims of human rights abuses in Myanmar who are located elsewhere and other locations in order to learn more about their experiences to understand better the human rights situation in Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur spent days in Dhaka meeting UN and government officials and then travel to Cox's Bazar where she met UN agencies, the humanitarian and protection sector, health and GBV actors, NGOs and government officials. Following her visit to Bangladesh, the human rights expert will share her findings when she presents a report to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in October 2018. Yanghee Lee was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.   AH

Senior Justice of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Abdul Wahhab Miah has resigned from his post. He sent his resignation letter to the President on Friday. It was known that officials of Bangabhaban received his resignation letter. The senior Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah was performing his duty as the Acting Chief Justice as the post of Chief Justice fell vacant following resignation of the country’s 21st Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on November 10 last year. Abdul Wahhab Miah is schedule to go on retirement on November 10 of the current year. He was the senior most Justice in the Appellate Division. On Friday afternoon the President appointed Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain as the country’s 22nd Chief Justice. He will be sworn-in as the Chief Justice at 7 pm on Saturday. According to the article 95 of the constitution, President has the sole authority to appoint Chief Justice. On Friday afternoon at the Ministers’ Apartment in Baily Road in the capital Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said to the newsmen, the President has appointed Chief Justice according to the constitution. No section of the constitution is violated in this regard. There was a rumor that Acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah will be appointed as the Chief Justice. But he was not appointed finally. While expressing his reaction the Attorney General said that though there is a violation of seniority but no untoward situation will be occurred. AH

Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq has said, more Justices are going to be appointed in Appellate Division soon. Not only in Appellate Division, Justices will be appointed in High Court division also. They will be appointed in January and first week of February. He said this to the newsmen after inaugurating the 21-day long training course on e-procurement for the Joint District and Session Judges and the similar post officials of judicial department at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital on Tuesday. The Law Minister said, earlier Appellate Division was run by three Justices. But the Justices will be appointed in number according to the work load of the Appellate Division. Anisul Huq said, the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. To make the country developed and prosperous there is a link with purchase activities and huge money is associated with this. The government wants to ensure transparency in purchase activities, wants to eradicate corruption in this regard. For that purpose e-procurement method has been initiated. The Minister said to the judges, different types of cases related to procurement will come to the courts in future and those should be settled with efficiency. For this reason the judges should have bold concept about Public Procurement Act and e-procurement. AH