Title of the Book: Juris: A layman’s guide to the law
Editor: Abdullah Al Arif
Publisher: Palal Prokashoni
First Published: July 2015
Price Shown:
BDT 400, US$ 20
Cover Design and Illustrations: Sabyasachi Hazra, Syed
Rashad Imam Tonmoy, Rio Shuvro and Priyo
Total Pages: 284
Juris: A layman’s guide to
the law is the most recent initiative to bring the law to the mass people of
the country. The title of the book itself reflects that it is a simplification
of daily life laws aiming to provide basic legal knowledge to the community.
Actually the book is a compilation of 84 selected write ups write by about 35
most talented young legal minds in present Bangladesh which were regularly
published in a daily newspaper’s weekly law page. The manuscript tries to transmit
a new dimension of most functional legal topics from a page of newspaper to a
handy piece of book; which also restrains some brilliant ideas from trailing it
to the womb of time. Consequently, it
contains diversity of thoughts on various contemporary and controversial legal
issues.
In Bangladesh, law has
remained in the hand of the learned practitioners and in the grasp of the elite
while it should be understandable to all and all should have some basic acquaintance
with their legal rights and responsibilities, Zafar Sobhan, Editor of Dhaka
Tribune urged this in his forwarding. Moreover; more formal, unusual and
complex legal language is a great barrier for the mass to interpret and
appreciate it in simplest way.
This hardback is alienated
into twenty nine different topics wise segments. The editor started his journey
with Women’s rights; most buzzing issue in our socio-legal perspective. The
title of the opening article is “From the bed room to the courtroom” by
Barrister Farzana Hussain where the author argued to bring out our bedroom
issues into the light of courtroom. Marital rape, an unsung paradox in the
country is being discussed comprehensively. Apart from this, many other vibrant
and courageous views are being discussed in this portion i.e. character in rape
trial, domestic violence, skin colour discrimination in TV commercials,
vulnerability of female garments worker etc. These opinions are not only new
addition to our legal fraternity but also an invitation to break the culture of
taboo which we foster for a long in our society. The title of next section is
Legal know-how. It is significant to introduce the procedure before the reader.
This chapter emphasized on procedural matters to enforce one’s rights. Further,
a variety of fees are not revealed in reality which is addressed properly. The
book doesn’t confine itself in mere theory rather it actually attempts to
empower people by educating them about their rights as well as informing tools
to obtain those rights.
Following two chapters inscribe
on legal system and legal education. Reporting on court proceeding now becomes
a cautious issue regarding contempt. Hence, subsequent portion focused on
matters relating to freedom of expression. Constitution now turns into a
fashionable word but what constitutes a constitution? S M Masum Billah, a PhD
candidate at Victoria University of Wellington raised this question in
constitution chapter. After that Abdullah Al Arif dedicates a chapter for
protection of children’s rights. However,
later some judges enlightening us by discussing insight story of the judiciary.
Each page of this paperback
gathered different of opinions and views. A lot of topics are covered under a
single shadow. In addition, relevant cartoons after regular interval increase
the magnificence of the book which successfully retain readers’ concentration
on the topic and make it more understandable to them. To prove the truth of multiplicity,
this layman’s guide contains many practical issues like human trafficking,
tort, alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, labour and
employment, right to information, prison reform, police reform, international
law, refugees, nationality and citizenship, human rights and humanitarian law, maritime
boundary, drug adulteration, food safety, medical malpractice, rights of the
ethnic community, rights of the people with disabilities, right to third
gender. Moreover, it portraits on legal luminaries, book review and so on.
After finishing the reading
one may ask anything remaining? Actually, nothing else is remaining in this
single petty book. Topics selection and synchronization are excellent in one word
for which behind heroes deserves thanks. However, explaining legal formalities
in casual lexis is not simple task. Nevertheless, the contributors and the
editor mutually do this fruitfully. The terminologies used in this book are
very straightforward and reader friendly which makes it layman’s guide in true
sense. Consequently, if one initiates to read these interesting articles s/he
can’t leave before finishing. After finishing s/he will realize what s/he earns
from the book without intention to become conversant in law. However, I want
conclude by mentioning a quotation from its introduction by S M Masum Billah
that ‘laws are full of contradictions and ambiguities…………..we need to learn to
live with the ambiguities and explore how those can be translated into the
strength of law’.
