Parliament passes Speedy Trial (Amendment) Bill

File Photo
File Photo

The Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in parliament on Tuesday for extending its validity till 2024, reports UNB.

The bill, moved by home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, was passed by voice vote.

Validity of the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) Act, 2002 has been extended by five years more as its duration expired in April 2019.

However, no change has been brought in the content of the law.

While talking about the Bill, Bangladesh Nationalist Party MP Rumeen Farhana said the she suspected that the act would be used to harass the BNP leaders and activists.

She said the government is increasing the tenure of the bill aiming to secure its tenure as it wanted to misuse the law against the opposition activists.

BNP MP Harunur Rashid also opposed the extension of the bill. Their opinions were, however, rejected by the minister.

On 25 June, the home minister placed the bill and it was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination.

The committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.

Earlier on 26 May, the cabinet approved the bill.