Dhaka, Oct 25: Bangladesh has promulgated an
ordinance that would expedite trial of six major offences,
including rape and murder, through special tribunals.
The ordinance, promulgated by President Professor
Iajuddin Ahmed last night, came on the eighth day of the
on-going anti-crime crackdown across the country.
The proposed tribunals to be headed by a judge with the
rank and status of a district judge will complete the trial in
a maximum of 135 days.
The court will initially have a 90 day trial period,
which may be extended first by 30 days and then by 15 days.
According to the ordinance, a convict may appeal against
the judgement of a tribunal within 30 days of its
pronouncement. However, unlike the ordinary courts, the
special tribunals would accept visual evidences.
The ordinance has been promulgated as the Parliament is
now in recess and likely to go into session in mid-November
when it would be made into law through ratification.
The six counts of crimes the new law will deal are
murder, rape, possession of illegal arms, narcotics and
explosives hoarding. Initially six tribunals would be set up
in as many divisional cities and in 13 other greater districts
later on.
On the expiry of 135 day trial period, a case would be
sent back to the court from where it might have been shifted.
In that case, the latter would dispose of the case on a
priority basis, the report said adding the new law will be
applied for cases that are punishable by sentences beyond five
year jail term.
Bureau Report
