BLAST works at all levels to ensure laws are robustly enforced. A key focus of BLAST is strengthening the judiciary, furthering the separation of the judiciary and the executive and ensuring access to justice. To this end, BLAST has been involved in PIL to enable access to judicial remedies and to ensure the accountability of parliamentarians and other elected officials and public functionaries. BLAST’s PIL and advocacy work highlights the importance of catalyzing institutional and administrative responses in cases of human rights violations.

BLAST files writ petitions in the High Court to ensure enforcement of laws, rules and guidelines laid out by the Government. Some laws that BLAST has filed writ petitions to enforce include the Bangla Bhasha Procholon Ain, 1987; the Town Improvement Act, 1953; the Environment Conservation Act, 1995; the Children Act, 1974; Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Order, 1973; and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation Amendment Act, 2003.

BLAST also files petitions and engages in advocacy to ensure democratic representation and participation in government. 

  • Separation of the Judiciary: What to Do in the Present Context (2006)
  • Food Security in Bangladesh: Legal Obligation (2006)
    • Judgments:
      • BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Iodized Salt Case]
        Writ Petition No. 1043 of 1999
        25 BLD (2005) 83
        Full Text
        Summary
      • BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [MP’s Telephone Bills Case] Writ Petition No. 2060 of 2001
        60 DLR (2008) 177
        Full Text
        Summary
      • BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [‘Gram Parishad Ain, 2003’ Case] Writ Petition No. 4502 of 2003
        60 DLR (2008) 234
        Full Text
        Summary
      • Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and another vs. Bangladesh and Others [Children Act, 1974 Case] Writ Petition No. 1341 of 2000
        22 BLD (2002) 206
        Full Text
        Summary
      • Bangladesh Legal Aid Services and Trust vs. Bangladesh and others [Chittagong Hill Tracts Courts Case] Writ Petition No. 606 of 2006
        61 DLR (2009) 109
        Full Text (Available in Bangla Only)
        Summary

      Disposed:

      • BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [‘Gram Parishad Ain, 1997’ Case] Writ Petition No. 6875 of 1997
        Summary
      • BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Voter ID Card Case] Writ Petition No. 1837 of 1998
        Summary
      • BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [Inmates’ Diet Case] Writ Petition No. 7986 of 2006
        Summary

      Pending:

      • A.K. Rezaul Karim and others vs. Bangladesh and others [Ban of Publications Case] Writ Petition no. 7037 of 2004
        Summary
      • BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [Untreated Industrial Waste Case] Writ Petition No. 5007 of 2006
        Summary
      • BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Building Construction Code and Worker Safety Case] Writ Petition No. 718 of 2008
        Summary
      • BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Labour Tribunal Case] Writ Petition No. 6448 of 2008
        Summary
      • BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Bangla Language Case]
        Writ Petition No. 8404 of 2008
        Summary
      • BLAST and another vs. Bangladesh and others [Non-Compliance with Environment Conservation Rules Case] Writ Petition No. 341 of 2009
        Summary
      • Anisur Rashid, ASK and BLAST vs. Bangladesh and others [Safe Blood Transfusion Case] Writ Petition No. 1360 of 2010
        Summary

CASE STUDIES

  • Saiful loses his eyesight 

Project: Legal Reform for Ending Corporal Punishment in all Settings (ECP) 

On 29 July 2017, a teacher at the BEPZA Public School and College in Chattogram, allegedly beat Saiful, 14, a student, for failing to complete his homework, and also threw a duster at him, injuring his eye. According to news reports published in the Daily Jugantar, Dhaka Tribune and on bdnews24.com on 8-9 August 2017, Saiful subsequently lost his eyesight as a result of the injury. BLAST filed a complaint with the NHRC regarding the incident, seeking immediate action. On 23 October 2017, the NHRC requested DC Chattogram to investigate the matter, expecting an investigation report on 15 November 2017, which it never received.

  • Ali’s tragic death 

Project: Legal Reform for Ending Corporal Punishment in all Settings (ECP) 

On 27 August 2017, Ali, a student of grade six at a school in Chattogram, was allegedly forced by his physical education teacher to hold his ears and do 18 squats. Ali later became unconscious and consequently died. The news was published online on Banglanews24.com on 27 August 2017. Local police went to Ali’s house to investigate, but his parents refused to file a case against the teacher. BLAST filed a complaint with the NHRC to seek immediate action regarding the degrading punishment which resulted in Ali’s death. On 19 October 2017, NHRC requested DC Chattogram to look into the matter and submit an investigation report by 04 December 2017. When the DC failed to do this, NHRC again made a request for an investigation report to be submitted by 28 January 2018.