Govt, UNDP sign Tk 1.30b project for village courts

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/03/05/60459.html

Govt, UNDP sign Tk 1.30b project for village courts

The government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Wednesday signed an agreement to implement a new technical assistance project in Bangladesh for strengthening the justice system at the grass roots level through village courts, reports BSS.

The project “Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh”, jointly funded by the government of Bangladesh, the European Commission (EC) and UNDP, will improve access to justice for disadvantaged and marginalised groups and promote and protect human rights.

It will strengthen the village court system primarily in 500 selected Union Parishads across the country, which will enable people at the grass roots level to seek justice remedies in a transparent and affordable manner for matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the village courts, said a UNDP press release.

Improved access to justice mechanisms at the local level will have particular impact on the empowerment of women, the poor and disadvantaged groups. The project will also strengthen local government institutions making them more responsive to local needs.

The total value of the project amounts to approximately 14.98 million US dollars (approximately Tk 103 crore) with .073 million US dollars (approximately 50 lakh taka) contributed by the government of Bangladesh, 13.62 million US dollars (approximately 93.4 crore Taka) by the EC and 1.3 million US dollars (approximately 8.9 crore taka) by UNDP.

Council of advisers approves Judicial Service Secretariat Ordinance-2008

http://www.bssnews.net/index.php?genID=BSS-02-2008-12-14&id=255

Council of advisers approves Judicial Service Secretariat Ordinance-2008

DHAKA,Bangladesh, Dec 14 (BSS) – The Council of Advisers today approved the Judicial Service Secretariat Ordinance-2008 for complete separation of judiciary from the executive.

The approval was given at a meeting of the council of advisers held here this afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

After the meeting, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim said the ordinance will help establish effective control of the Supreme Court on lower courts and tribunals.

Briefing newsmen, he said it will shift total administrative affairs of judicial service to the new secretariat from the ministry of law affairs.

Besides, the council approved Bangladesh Telecommunications (amendment) Ordiannce-2008 and Chartered Secretaries (amendment) Ordinance-2008.

The press secretary said the meeting also approved the Emergency Power Repeal Ordinance-2008 and a proposal regarding lifting of emergency declared on January 11, 2007.

Besides, the council approved in principle a proposal to upgrade College of Textile Technology located in Tejgaon, Dhaka to Bangladesh Textile University.

The council after holding thorough discussion asked the ministry of education to bring the proposal before the cabinet soon after further examination.

Advisers and special assistants to the Chief Adviser attended the meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO). Cabinet secretary, press secretary and secretaries concerned were present.

3-yr plan to make police service-oriented

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=41378

3-yr plan to make police service-oriented
Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Police yesterday launched a three-year strategic plan to make it a modern service-oriented organisation.

“The proposed strategies are just the first step to build up such a modern police organisation that our community will be proud of it, ” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad while disclosing the ‘Strategic Plan for 2008-10′ at a city hotel.

Additional IGP and National Project Director of Police Reform Programme N B K Tripura, Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Hassan Mahmood Khandaker, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mohammad Javed Patwary, Rector of Police Staff College AKM Mahfuzul Haque, and Chief of the Special Branch of Police Baharul Alam also spoke on the occasion.

Development partners, NGO representatives, former senior police officers, civil society members and eminent personalities were also present at the function.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangladesh Police are implementing the programme while the European Commission is the major partner.

IGP Nur Mohammad said for the first time Bangladesh Police have a defining document that will outline their vision, mission, core values and priorities, and will guide them into the future.

“We have the vision of a police service that will work in partnership with the community and become a trusted partner rather than a feared tool of the state,” he said, adding, “ Our credibility depends on how we will implement the strategies.”

N B K Tripura said the entire police service will be involved in achieving the outcome that the strategic plan envisages.

The plan identifies five key strategic areas for fulfilling the vision of Bangladesh Police.

The first strategy is the organisational reform as it is the foundation for the implementation of other priorities.

The second strategy is community policing, which will foster real partnership with the community and develop operational priorities that will address the community needs.

Computerisation is the other cornerstone of the strategy as the Bangladesh Police wish to take full advantages of modern technology

First dividends of separated judiciary

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=36200

First dividends of separated judiciary
Salutary impact in lower courts

THERE has been much discussion and debate as to the impact in the higher courts of the long-awaited separation of the judicial branch from the executive branch, but we are pleased to note that in the operation and functioning of the lower courts there can be no question that the measure has been a resounding success.

We are gratified to learn from the Supreme Court registrar that the lower courts have been able to expeditiously dispose of over 3 lakh cases in the six months since the lower judiciary was made independent of political control.

Of course, this is not enough, and over six lakh cases remain pending as well as over two and a half lakh more in the higher courts, but it is a good start and the kind of improvement that the nation hoped to see when the independence of the judiciary had been a burning priority.

Let us hope that in the coming six months a large proportion of the remaining back-log of cases are also disposed of with similar efficiency and that justice can continue to be delivered swiftly, smoothly, and equitably.

It is reported that there are still 168 posts of judges that remain vacant and we trust and hope that they will be filled up quickly in order to help deal with the remaining backlog of cases. It is understood that, in addition, 390 new assistant judges will be appointed this month to help address the backlog.

These are all heartening measures and we cannot stress enough how crucial it is for the nation that the courts continue in the direction of greater efficiency and impartiality. There is no more fundamental right than the right to justice.

For too long the everyday citizens of the country suffered due to the politicisation of the judiciary which meant that for those not well connected or wealthy enough that there was no recourse to justice when they had been wronged.

We applaud the fact that the Bangladeshi people are now getting greater access to justice and urge the concerned authorities to ensure that the delivery of justice only gets better.