Thrust on proper application of laws before amendments
Friday, 1 May 2009
Law Commission Chairman Justice M Abdur Rashid Thursday said proper application of the existing laws would have to be ensured before thinking about amendments, reports BSS.
"The country's legal prosecution system is weak intellectually and organisationally," he said and stressed the need for strengthening the legal system for better justice delivery. The Law Commission Chairman was speaking at the launching ceremony of a report titled 'Investigations Into Workplace Deaths: Compensation, Accountability and Legal Reform' at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
BRAC Human Rights and Legal Aid Services prepared the report in collaboration with Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST) Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Occupational Safety and Health Environment Foundation (OSHE).
Referring to the weakness of country's judiciary, Justice Rashid said there are 29 judges in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) in Pakistan while the number of judges in the Appellate Division in India is 25. But there are only seven judges in the Appellate Division in Bangladesh, he added.
He stressed the need for increasing the number of judges and developing expertise by the lawyers in relevant fields for a better judiciary.
Referring to the report on workplace deaths, the Law Commission chief said the workers must get compensations for such deaths. There are measures in the existing laws to get compensation and justice for deaths while working, he added.
If the negligence of the employer is responsible for the death, it will be treated as a criminal offence, he said.
Moderated by BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services Director Faustina Pereira, the function was also addressed by BLAST Executive Director and former Ambassador Mohsin Ali Khan and noted rights activist Hameeda Hossain.
According to the report released in the function, half of the deaths in workplace result from violation of existing health and safety laws.
"The country's legal prosecution system is weak intellectually and organisationally," he said and stressed the need for strengthening the legal system for better justice delivery. The Law Commission Chairman was speaking at the launching ceremony of a report titled 'Investigations Into Workplace Deaths: Compensation, Accountability and Legal Reform' at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
BRAC Human Rights and Legal Aid Services prepared the report in collaboration with Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST) Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Occupational Safety and Health Environment Foundation (OSHE).
Referring to the weakness of country's judiciary, Justice Rashid said there are 29 judges in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) in Pakistan while the number of judges in the Appellate Division in India is 25. But there are only seven judges in the Appellate Division in Bangladesh, he added.
He stressed the need for increasing the number of judges and developing expertise by the lawyers in relevant fields for a better judiciary.
Referring to the report on workplace deaths, the Law Commission chief said the workers must get compensations for such deaths. There are measures in the existing laws to get compensation and justice for deaths while working, he added.
If the negligence of the employer is responsible for the death, it will be treated as a criminal offence, he said.
Moderated by BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services Director Faustina Pereira, the function was also addressed by BLAST Executive Director and former Ambassador Mohsin Ali Khan and noted rights activist Hameeda Hossain.
According to the report released in the function, half of the deaths in workplace result from violation of existing health and safety laws.