Speedy Trial Law is Getting Permanent form, Bill Passed in Parliament

News desk: Instead of extending the term, the speedy trial law is taking a permanent form. The 'Offenses Disrupting Law and Order (Speedy Trial) (Amendment)' Bill was passed in the National Assembly on Tuesday to make the law enacted during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government permanent.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan took up the bill in Parliament for passage. After sending the public opinion on the bill to the committee and settling the amendment proposals, the bill was passed by voice vote.

The first law was enacted in 2002 for two years. After that the period of 7 points was extended. Last in 2019, the law was amended and the period extended. This law expires on April 9.

Meanwhile, the government decided to make the law permanent without extending it. This decision was taken in the cabinet on January 29. After the draft bill was approved by the cabinet on that day, the related bill was passed in the Parliament on Tuesday. The bill did not make any amendments other than making the law permanent.

Participating in the discussion of the bill's passage, Jatiya Party Member of Parliament Mujibul Haque said, "When the BNP-Jamaat government passed the law in 2002, you (the then opposition Awami League) said it was an oppressive and black law." This law can harass citizens for political reasons or for any reason the government wants. You have kept that law. I do not know why?

Chunnu said, when you are not in power, make the law permanently, someone else comes to power, then the intention may not be good. Do you want to say that the law brought by BNP was good? Admit it today.

He also said that when RAB was formed, many political parties including Awami League opposed it. That RAB is alive now, they are working. Request to the government to extend the period of law by one-two years if necessary. But don't make the law permanent, if you do, one day in the future you will be in such a situation, you will regret that day.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, another parliament member of Jatiya Party, said that the law was brought by BNP. At that time, we and Awami League opposed. Still, the law was passed. Today will also pass. My question is that whoever digs a hole, he himself has to fall into that hole. Today, BNP has fallen into that hole. Now Awami League has brought the law to be permanent. No day will be the same.

At that time, he proposed to extend the period of five to four years instead of making the law permanent.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal claimed that there was anarchy in Bangladesh when the law was enacted in response to the criticism of the opposition in the parliament. He said, at that time there were various types of crimes, so maybe the law was made by the then government. I think the purpose of the law was to ensure that people get immediate justice. The main objective was to punish the criminals in a speedy time.

The Home Minister said, our members of parliament have sent to us many times that justice should be done through this law. Not only parliamentarians, many sent us recommendations to use the law. The only reason is that criminals are punished through speedy trial. None of the members of parliament said to repeal the law. No one said the law was not qualified. They extended the time and said the law would remain in place. The law remains the same, we have not made any amendments. The law was not made to harm anyone. No political leader can say that he has been punished by this law.

In the discussion of the amendment, Mujibul Haque Chunnu said that the Home Minister made a contradictory statement. He said the law is good. So why did you oppose the law when BNP made it? Is it better now?

Later, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that when the law was brought was not the main purpose. The law is being made permanent to create an atmosphere of peace.