Cabinet okays draft to make Speedy Trial Act permanent
The Speedy Trial Act was first enacted in 2002 for two years
The Cabinet gave its final approval on Monday (29 January) to the draft of the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Once passed in parliament, the much-talked-about law will become permanent, graduating from its term-based status.
After the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office today, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain briefed the media about the development.
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He said the Speedy Trial Act was enacted in 2002 initially for two years, followed by extensions for several terms.
The law is set to meet its latest expiry date on 9 April.
"It will no longer be required to extend its validation as the Cabinet has decided to give it a permanent status," said the Cabinet secretary.
The Public Security Division placed the draft before the Cabinet.
Dr Shahdeen Malik, a constitutional expert and legal activist, told The Business Standard that the capacity of courts in Bangladesh is in such a state that whether new laws are made or old laws are made permanent, it will not bring good results.
"Over the ages, laws in our country have been changed, expanded or amended or extended to prolong the power of the rulers. All these have some pitfalls. Moreover, such laws are applied to people of opposing views," added the legal expert.
