The Appellate Division declared mandatory death sentence as unconstitutional On May 5, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court declared section 6 (2) (3) (4) of the Women and Children Repression (Special Provisions) Act 1995 and section 34 (2) of the Suppression of Oppression Against Women and Children Act 2000 to be unconstitutional in so far as it prescribes a mandatory death penalty.This judgment was pronounced in an appeal arising out of a Writ Petition filed jointly by the BLAST and Shukkur Ali, a convict who was sentenced to death under the Special Act of 1995. The sections were challenged as those violate Articles 7(Supremacy of the Constitution), 26 (laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights to be void), 27 (Equality before law), 31 (Right to protection of law), 32 (right to life) and 35 (prohibition on crueland degrading treatment or punishment) of the Constitution and because of absence ofjudicial power of discretions in awarding sentence. The High Court declared Joint Drive Indemnity Act 2003 as illegal: On 13 September 2015, the High Court declared the Joint Drive Indemnity Act 2003 as illegal and unconstitutional. The court ruled that any aggrieved person or victim of the operation can seek compensation from the government through the HC or any other court. The 'Operation Clean Heart' was executed from October 16, 2002 to January 9, 2003 to restore law and order. Members fromArmy, Navy, BDR, police and Ansar joined the anti-crime drive. On Feb 24, 2003, a law was enacted providing indemnity to the military officials who took part in the special operation. The law was challenged on June 14, 2012. The petitioner’s argument was that Bangladesh has signed the International 10 JAMAKON Convention Against Torture (CAT) in 1998. Article 14 of the CAT provides for raising a fund to compensate anyone harmed by government forces. But the indemnity law says that anyone harmed during the operation cannot seek compensation. HC directs protection for law on witness On 7 December 2015, the High Court directed the government to enact a witness protection Act to ensure safety of witnesses and their appearance before court and speedy disposal of cases. An HC bench passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by the accused of a murder case. The court asked the Home Secretary and the Law Secretary to ensure execution of the direction. The court also asked these secretaries to include necessary rules in the law so that public prosecutors and police remain accountable for absence of witnesses. A law relating to witness protection in Bangladesh is required to ensure the right to life, right to security of person and right to equality before the courts and tribunals. Exchange of enclaves After 68 years of the partition of Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh and India became successful in bringing an end to one of the most complicated and confusing border disputes in the world i.e. enclaves. On 1st August 2015, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves situated in India merged with India, while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladeshi territory integrated withBangladesh. Around 14,000 people living in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in the Indian Territory, and another 37,000 residing in 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh, now have a country of their own. The chair of JAMAKON paid visit to the Enclaves which are within Bangladesh. JAMAKON advocated for the rights of those