British lawyers denied entry in Bangladesh

by Staff Reporter
August 6, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1626/british-lawyers-denied-entry-in-bangladesh

Eminent British lawyer Toby Cadman has been refused entry into Bangladesh as he defends five of the seven men detained by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh on allegations of committing international crimes during the 1971 war of independence. Cadman was seeking a 'visa on arrival' which he has successfully obtained on the four other occasions he had come to Bangladesh. But his entry was refused as home ministry letter signed by its deputy secretary on June 8 asked the airport authorities not to allow Toby Cadman. Jamaat-e-Islami has engaged three British lawyers including Toby Cadman to defend its five leaders who have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Abdur Razzak, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, told The Daily Star that Toby is one of their three foreign lawyers to defend their leaders. He termed the incident of barring Toby from entering the country improper.

Denying the fact of writing any letter to immigration authorities by the deputy secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs [which was send on June 8, 2011], the secretary in charge of the ministry said: "'I don't know whether the home ministry had written a letter to the immigration authority stopping his entry."

On the other hand, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, law minister in Bangladesh told reporters that he had no knowledge of any ban on the lawyer's entry.

It is clearly ridiculous to note that a deputy secretary of the Ministry of Home affairs can send a letter to the immigration authorities without bringing it to the knowledge of the secretary concerned. Such situation clearly proves that, most of the ministries in Bangladesh are possibly filled with mere political cadres of the ruling party, who are taking decision unanimously denying the top level officials, such as secretaries.

On the other hand, the law minister's denial of knowing anything about the matter put his very credibility into question. Shafiq Ahmed has already become extremely controversial following the fifteenth amendment of the constitution, printing of constitution books and incorporation of a particular article in the new constitution where people are barred from challenging any of the contents of the constitution.

He also in under severe controversy following a recent Presidential decree, which closes the doors for the parliament to discuss anything related to any agreement or protocol Bangladesh may sign with any foreign nation [in particular India]. It is largely rumored that Barrister Shafiq Ahmed is one of the few top figured members in the committee who are now finalizing series of agreements and protocols, which would be signed during the September visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Cadman belongs to the barristers' chambers 9 Bedford Row in London, and has been instructed, along with two other lawyers from the same chambers, Steven Kay QC and John Cammegh by the Jamaat-e-Islami, to provide legal assistance to the party's five leaders currently detained by the ICT.

Related Topics:  International News receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list