Bill seeking protection against torture, death in custody placed in JS

A ruling party lawmaker Thursday moved two private members’ bills, including one seeking protection against torture, cruelty and custodial deaths, in parliament to help ensure rule of law in line within constitutional framework.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury piloted the bills styled Oppression and Custodial deaths (Prevention) Bill 2009 and Eviction of Slum Dwellers from Government Land (Prevention) Bill 2009 in the House.
Jatiya Sangsad speaker Abdul Hamid sent the bills to the parliamentary committee on private members’ bills and resolutions for further scrutiny.
The lawmaker proposed enactment of law against torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the hands of law enforcement agencies or government officials.
The Oppression and Custodial deaths (Prevention) Bill proposes punishments, including life-term imprisonment and suspension from the services during investigation of charges against an offender, regardless of whether the offender is a member of regular law enforcement agencies or the armed forces, or of any public office.
Officials charged with the offences would not be able to justify their acts citing exceptional circumstances whatsoever including a state of war, political instability, a state of emergency, and an order of a superior officer or a public authority.
In his statement supporting the bill, the ruling party lawmaker said the proposed law is necessary to uphold the constitutional provisions guaranteeing the citizen’s protection under law. Since Bangladesh is a party to international convention signed on December 10, 1984 against torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the country needs to have a law to protect its citizens from inhuman torture in anyone’s hand, he argued.
Bangladesh signed the convention in October 1998.
Although the constitution has specific provisions to ensure human rights, it has been observed that these rights are very often undermined and violated, said Saber. He alleged that the people are frequently been detained and tortured by the state machinery and in the hands of law enforcers.
He stressed the need for a law against the ruthless practices of illegal arrests, detentions, torture, and extra judicial killings in the country to ensure rule of law.
The bill proposes the trial of an offence punishable under it shall be completed within six months from the date of filing of charge sheet against the accused, while the investigation of an offence must be completed within seven months from the date of recording the first complaint.
The bill seeking protection against eviction of slum dwellers advocates that habitation is one of the basic human rights. The bill proposed several provisions to protect rights of the poor, hapless, aged, destitute, disabled people and minor children.

Courtesy of NewAgebd