BLAST and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) filed a writ petition challenging Section 1(2) of the Family Court Ordinance, 1984 which bars applicability of the Family Court Ordinance in three hill districts, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
The factory building of Spectrum Sweater Industries Ltd., a nine storied building at Palashbari, Savar, collapsed leaving 69 workers dead and 89 injured. Four injured workers and nine human rights organisations, including BLAST, working collaboratively as the Sramik Nirapatta Forum filed the writ petition impugning the failure of the concerned authorities to discharge their statutory duties and responsibilities relating to building construction, labour safety and welfare.
A four-storied building situated at the BSCIC Industrial Area in Chittagong and used as the factory of KTS Textile and Garments caught fire and 57 workers died. At the time of the fire, the main gate was closed as per the direction of the management and there was no emergency exit. Many of the workers, finding no route of escape, simply burned to death and their bodies were found in the staircase, on the floor and on the window grilles.
BLAST filed a writ petition challenging the Additional Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong’s exercise of powers as a Sessions Judge by claiming an ex-officio authority unfounded in law. The three hill districts, Rangamati, Bandraban and Khagrachari had long been regulated by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900
The Vested Property Act 1974 was a highly controversial law that effectively allowed the Government to appropriate property from individuals it deemed to be an enemy of the state. The abuse of laws by the government and its agencies to deprive religious minorities of their land continued post independence.