2024-03-06 18:07:04
The National Parliament has passed the Law-Disturbing Offenses (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Bill-2024 to perpetuate the speedy trial law. So far the law has been implemented by extending the period at different times.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal proposed to pass the bill on Tuesday (March 5). Opposition MPs proposed to verify public opinion on the bill and send it to the selection committee. However, their proposal was voted down. Later, after discussion on the amendment proposal, the bill was passed by voice vote.
Members of Parliament elected from the opposition Jatiya Party strongly objected to the passage of the bill. They warned the government that if Awami League joins the opposition in the future, they will be subjected to repression through this law. However, their objection was voted down. The bill was tabled in Parliament on February 29.
The purpose and reason statement of the bill states, extortion, obstruction of traffic, damage to vehicles, destruction of immovable and immovable property, robbery, banditry, terror and disorderly situation for the purpose of playing a quick and effective role in improving the law and order situation of the country; The ‘Law and Order Offenses (Speedy Trial) Act-2002’ was framed and promulgated to further improve the overall law and order situation in the country by ensuring speedy trial of serious offenses such as purchase, sale, acceptance or submission of tenders, intimidation etc. . At the time of enactment, the Act had a term of two years. It was subsequently extended for seven consecutive times as per the requirement, which will expire on April 9. It is necessary to make this law permanent to keep the overall law and order situation of the country normal and for further improvement.
Before the passing of the bill, the opposition chief whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu said, “When the law was passed in 2002 during the BNP government, you said that it is a derogatory law, a black law.” In this act, the government can harass any citizen for political reasons or for any reason. You kept that law, I don’t know why? Even if your intentions are good, if another party comes to power after making the law permanent, their intentions may not be good. Then the political leaders and activists will be harassed.
Jatiya Party member Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said, if you dig a hole, you have to fall into that hole. BNP dug a hole, had to fall into the hole. Today you are making the law permanent, time is not always the same. Therefore, the Act can be extended by four or five years without making it permanent.
Masud Uddin Chowdhury, another member of Jatiya Party said, when the law was passed in 2002, we all opposed it. What has happened to people in these 22 years can be checked by public opinion. Since the time is up, you can extend it by four years.
In response to these words, the Home Minister said that this Act was made in 2002 in anarchic and unstable conditions. I think the intention of this Act was to bring about speedy trial. May those who commit crimes be judged in a short time. Members of Parliament have often sent us recommendations that this Act be dealt with. Not only parliamentarians, many often send recommendations to use this law, so that criminals are punished through speedy trials. That was the purpose of the law. None of the members of parliament said, repeal this law. No one said the law was not qualified. He just said, let the law continue by extending the time. But we think it would be better for everyone to make it permanent instead of extending it repeatedly. However, I want to assure you that it will not be misused. It is good law. I request you to accept them.