Excess fare hurts commuters

Commuters had to pay more for going places in the city as the operators of buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws continued to charge in excess of the rates fixed by the government ignoring the drive against the unacceptable practice on the second day, Thursday

The drive of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority against the erring auto-rickshaw and bus operators remained equally ineffective for the second day in spite of support from Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

And to worsen the situation there was none to take action against erring rickshaw pullers charging at sweet will.

On Wednesday, the first day of the drive, BRTA had to do it alone with no trace of the police anywhere.

Meanwhile, BRTC also increased commuting fare on Thursday.

The police support on the second day made no difference to the drive with the bus and auto-rickshaw operators continuing to charge excess fare citing the government decision to raise the price of compressed natural gas since May 5.

Executive magistrate Mohammad Tofael Islam, who led the BRTA drive at Topkhana Road, in front of the National Press Club on Thursday with support from Shahbag police station, said the bus ticket sellers fled abandoning their counters as soon as his squad reached the spot at 12.30 PM.

He, however, said that the BRTA team confiscated two buses belonging to Belal Enterprise and My Line and fined Tk 1,500 from each, for charging excessive fare and not having proper documents.

He said that the squad also confiscated the route permit of one of the buses.

He said that the drive would continue as long it takes the authorities to ensure full compliance with the new fare structure, announced by the government.

Islam said that the authorities would, if needed, engage more magistrates and police with the drive.

The additional deputy commissioner of DMP Mohammad Zaidul Alam said the drive was carried out at different city points against charging of excess fare by the operators of CNG run buses and three wheelers.

On Monday the government raised bus fare by 35 paisa a kilometre in the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong and fixed the minimum fare at Tk 7, following its decision to increase the fuel price.

On long routes, it raised bus fare to Tk 1.15 a kilometre from 94-96 paisa.

The government raised CNG-run auto-rickshaws fare to Tk 7.50 a kilometre from Tk 7, and fixed minimum fare unchanged at Tk 25.

It increased the waiting charge for the auto-rickshaws to Tk 1.30 a minute from Tk 1.25.

Source: New Age

Repeal 1st amendment to constitution for fair ICT trials: HRW

Human Rights Watch has written to the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, asking her to repeal Article 47A of the country's constitution to ensure a fair trial of the people accused of committing international crimes during the 1971 independence war of Bangladesh.

Article 47A was introduced in July 1973 as part of the first amendment to the constitution and has the effect of denying those accused of offences under the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 the right to move the High Court for any constitutional remedies.

The law minister, Shafique Ahmed, rejected

out of hand any thought of repealing this provision of the constitution.

'Why should we agree with this? These men have committed murder throughout the country.' he said.

'Let the Human Rights Watch man who claims to be an expert in Bangladesh constitutional law and in international jurisprudence, let him communicate with me. That is my comment,' he added. 'Please convey the message.'

At present seven men — five leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and two of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — have been detained by the International Crimes Tribunal set up in March 2010 under the 1973 law. One is on bail.

The request for the constitutional repeal was made by the international human rights organisation in a letter signed by Brad Adams, its Asia division executive director and dated May 18, which sets out 12 categories of changes that the organisation says are necessary 'to ensure that the trials are carried out in accordance with Bangladesh's international human rights obligations, international criminal law and Bangladesh's constitution.'

The letter to the prime minister says that Article 47A of the constitution denies 'fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution and international law, which are accorded to accused persons in all other criminal trials.'

'There is no justification for withdrawing these rights to those accused of violations of international humanitarian law,' the letter adds.

In calling for this change, Human Rights Watch has gone beyond the proposals made by the United States war crimes ambassador-at-large, Stephen Rapp, who in his letter to the Bangladesh government in March 2011 only proposed changes to the International Crimes Tribunal's rules of procedure.

Changes in the rules of procedure can be made directly by the tribunal without any legislative changes.

In his letter to government ministers Rapp had said that ministers had told him that it would take too much time to make changes in the legislation but were willing to consider additions to the rules of procedure.

The other proposals suggested by Human Rights Watch in its letter reflect many of Rapp's suggestion, including the introduction of a system of interlocutory appeals that will allow the 'parties to be able to appeal [against] key decisions during the trial process instead of waiting for a conviction' – which the letter said was 'essential' - and amendments that will provide greater clarity to the definitions of the offences in the 1973 act.

The letter makes clear that the organisation considers that there should be changes not just to its rules of procedure, but also to the 1973 Act.

Adams also emphasises the need for an improvement in the capacity of the ICT prosecutors and judges.

'Ensuring that prosecutions and trials meet international standards requires considerable technical expertise so that the cases presented and verdicts delivered are based on sufficient, legally obtained evidence,' the letter states.

'We are concerned that Bangladesh's limited experience in trying grave international crimes means that prosecutors and judges are not sufficiently trained and experienced to effectively handle these complex cases.'

Human Rights Watch had previously written to the prime minister in July 2009 about the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 and in the new letter says that it appreciates that since then the government has introduced some amendments to the legislation.

Whilst calling for changes, the US-based human rights organisation states firmly that it welcomes the 'government's commitment to bring to justice those responsible for serious human rights abused in 1971' and are 'pleased that the government has decided to set up special courts with a special prosecution team to address these crimes.'

Source: New Age

Nor’wester kills three, injures scores in four dists

There people were killed and scores of people injured in nor'westers that lashed parts of Patuakhali, Barguna, Gopalganj and Chuadanga districts early on Wednesday.

New Age correspondent in Patuakhali said one person was killed and over 50 others were injured as the storm swept over five Upazilas of the district.

The storms that started at about 5:45am and lasted for about 20 minutes damaged nearly 200 houses and uprooted trees and electric poles.

Dashmina Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ajmal Hossain said Aleya Begum, 55, of Bagura village died

when her house collapsed on her.

At least 15 people were injured in Dashmina, and 10 each in Baufal, Galachipa and Kalapara, and 5 in Sadar Upazila.

Of the injured, 5 people were admitted to Dashmina Upazila Health Complex.

United News of Bangladesh reports that two people were killed and 20 others injured as nor'wester swept over Gopalganj, Barguna and Chuadanga districts early on Thursday.

In Gopalganj, a middle-aged man was killed as a wall collapsed on him during a storm at Padmabila village in Kashiani Upazila.

The deceased was identified as Waheduzzaman, 55.

In Chuadanga, Hajera Begum, 63, died in wall collapse during the storm at Kushodanga village in Sadar Upazila.

The storm also raged over 50 houses to the ground.

In Barguna, at least 15 people were injured and over 100 thatched houses damaged in a nor'wester early on Thursday.

The agency quoting local sources said at least 70 houses were damaged at Locha and Basuki village in Amtoli Upazila and 56 houses in different places of Sadar Upazila.

Over 400 trees were uprooted in Amtoli Upazila. Vegetable and Boro paddy on vast tracts of land were also damaged in the storm.

Source: New Age

Some newspapers writing too much on Limon: PM’s adviser

The prime minister's defence adviser has said he is '100 per cent sure' Limon Hossain was not a target of Rapid Action Battalion's shooting.

'When RAB went to capture criminal Morshed Jamaddar, Limon was trying to run away. That is why RAB shot in his leg,' Tarique Ahmed Siddique told the press on Thursday.

The retired major general claimed that Jamaddar had 'very close ties' with Limon and the father.

'On the day of the incident, Limon's father was in Savar and his mother was three to four kilometres away from the scene,' he added.

A RAB team reportedly shot Limon, who used to work in a brick kiln, in the leg on March 23.

They took him to a place adjacent to his house at Jamaddarhat in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakati, less than a fortnight before his Higher Secondary Certificate examinations were to begin.

RAB on the same day filed two cases against the teenager under the arms act and another for obstructing government duty, making attempts to murder and injuring RAB personnel.

The police submitted charge sheet in the case under arms act last week claiming that Limon is a member of 'Mizan-Morshed' gang. Charges were brought against him under the Juvenile Crimes Act.

Limon's mother, Henuara Begum, also filed an attempt-to-murder case against six RAB men and as many unidentified people. The family alleged that law enforcers were trying to prove him a miscreant.

Earlier this month, National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman questioned the lower court's sending to jail Limon. 'Limon is an adolescent boy. Can he be sent directly to the jail?'

Limon, whose leg had to be cut off, secured a six-month bail in an arms case filed by the elite force.

The High Court also asked the government to explain why a judicial commission should not be formed to look into the so-called shootout.

Siddique said he could say with conviction RAB did not shoot anyone after detaining.

'The way some newspapers publish news, people would even believe the lies. This is intentional,' he said.

The defence affairs adviser said some newspapers were writing too much on Limon. 'They are more focused on banning RAB than sympathy for Limon.'

He said though incidents of 'crossfire' were reported with zeal, no one reported attacks on law enforcers.

'When this Jamaddar cut off a leg of a policeman that newspaper did not say anything. But they've written 48 stories on Limon in 40 days.'

Siddique said RAB's success against militancy was enviable.

The adviser said it was an officer or soldier's temperament that was judged when recruiting for RAB.

'RAB recruits are brave but not unruly.'

He said so far disciplinary actions had been taken against 1,047 members of RAB.

'Also, 76 were expelled, 16 jailed. Thirty-four RAB members have died in action,' he added.

He outlined many successes of the paramilitary force.

'Despite all the success, the propaganda is such that even knowledgeable people now believe them,' he said.

Source: New Age