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Hira Talukder

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Unprecedented amendment to RPO heats up poll season
Unprecedented amendment to RPO heats up poll season

Unprecedented amendment to RPO heats up poll season

Some amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) were made before the 7th national elections. But the amendments made by the interim government this time are unprecedented. Especially, the amendments to Section 21 of the RPO, which were widely made by accepting the proposals of Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP and rejecting the proposals of some other parties including BNP, are making the election season hot. Several political parties, including the BNP, are angry over the cancellation of the long-standing alliance system of elections under a single party symbol.

Northern winds herald winter’s arrival
Northern winds herald winter’s arrival

Northern winds herald winter’s arrival

'With the winter breeze, a dance begins on every branch of the Amlaki tree, the leaves shiver and fall in rhythm.' In the rhythm of this poem by the revered poet Rabindranath Tagore, winter is arriving a little early this year in Bangladesh, the abode of natural beauty. In this land of six seasons, each season appears with its own distinct characteristics.

Nation on edge: Major quake looms on Dawki-Madhupur fault
Nation on edge: Major quake looms on Dawki-Madhupur fault

Nation on edge: Major quake looms on Dawki-Madhupur fault

Pressure has been building for about 400 years on the tectonic plates beneath Bangladesh, specifically on the Dawki and Madhupur faults. When this strong pressure is released, the resulting earthquake could reach a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale. This would cause extensive damage to central, northern, and north-eastern regions of Bangladesh, including Dhaka. The number of casualties would surpass all previous records. This information was revealed in a research paper published in June of this year by the geology department of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, USA.

Draft NHRC ordinance to boost commission's power, independence
Draft NHRC ordinance to boost commission's power, independence

Draft NHRC ordinance to boost commission's power, independence

Amendments are being brought to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act-2009. These changes aim to empower the NHRC, which has been operating with limited power and independence, by enhancing its own authority and ensuring unhindered freedom in its work to guarantee the protection and development of human rights. Furthermore, the amendments mandate that the appointment of its Chairman and members must be done through a transparent, open, and competitive process. After the Law Commission's recommendations, the amendment is currently with the Ministry of Law for vetting. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law has confirmed this information.

End of property disputes, sufferings over inheritance
End of property disputes, sufferings over inheritance

End of property disputes, sufferings over inheritance

Conflicts among siblings and relatives over inherited property have been a long-standing issue in Bangladesh. Every day, countless civil cases are filed in the country’s courts regarding land ownership disputes. On top of that, errors in various land surveys and documentation frequently cause further harassment. However, final settlements often take years, if not decades. To address such prolonged disputes and reduce family conflicts over inheritance, the government has amended the Inheritance Law. According to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, the amended law will come into effect on September 7.

Special initiative by SC to reduce backlog of old pending cases
Special initiative by SC to reduce backlog of old pending cases

Special initiative by SC to reduce backlog of old pending cases

At present, a total of 4,516,603 cases are pending across all courts in Bangladesh. Almost all of these cases were filed between 1990 and June 2025. Among them, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court (SC) alone has 589,751 pending cases.

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