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False cases and unwarranted arrests have created widespread concern across society. To address this issue, the government is introducing new measures, announced Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul. He made these remarks during a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Thursday (June 22).
The event featured three separate sessions, with representatives from various ministries, the Judicial Reform Commission, Bar Council, police, NGOs, and development partner organizations participating in question-and-answer segments. Chaired by BIISS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis, the inaugural session included a welcome address by UNODC’s South Asia Deputy Representative Dr. Suruchi Pant.
The Law Adviser stated, “We are introducing significant provisions to curb false cases and unnecessary arrests. These measures are expected to reduce such incidents to some extent.” He further noted that sexual abuse of male children has been recognized as a punishable offense for the first time, and a new law on enforced disappearances is under process, aligned as closely as possible with relevant international conventions.
To address case backlogs, district Legal Aid offices are being strengthened, with three Legal Aid officers now appointed per district. Additionally, the government has taken bold steps to withdraw false and politically motivated cases. So far, recommendations have been made to withdraw approximately 12,000 cases, affecting nearly 300,000 people. The Adviser expressed hope that an additional 20,000 cases could be withdrawn within the next six months.
To ensure transparency in the judiciary, judges are now required to submit asset declarations. Modern training for judges and a centralized recruitment system for court staff have also been introduced.
Speakers at the event discussed various aspects of judicial reforms, including legal aid, state prosecution activities, international standards, and evidence-based practices.
AI/MR
