Law Minister
Govt to support Election Commission in holding fair election: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said the government will provide all necessary support to the Election Commission (EC) in holding a free and fair election.
“I have clearly said that the Bangladesh government enacted a law for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners. The responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct fair elections and the government will provide all necessary assistance,” he said.
Read more: BNP MPs ready to resign; Govt must go for credible election: Fakhrul
The minister said this replying to questions from journalists after a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls.
The envoy paid a call on the minister at the Secretariat today.
The Hasina-led government is committed to holding fair elections, Anisul added.
It is up to EC whether it will allow observers in national poll
The law minister said he told the Canadian envoy that it is up to the EC whether it will allow observers in the next national election.
During the visit, Nicholls wanted to know whether they can send observers to oversee the next election,
They also discussed the Digital Security Act and the Data Protection Act. “They did not say anything about the Digital Security Act. I informed them about it as this issue is being widely discussed,” said the minister.
Read more: Govt won’t send Khaleda back to jail before election: Law Minister
Regarding the proposed Data Protection Act, the minister said already a meeting was held with the stakeholders. There will be two to three more meetings. “It will not be for data control, it will be for protection.”
During the visit they discussed 50 years of friendship between the two nations, areas of mutual cooperation, importance of freedom of expression in democratic societies.
Let’s see how EC handles Jamaat’s registration in disguise: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday said Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party is sub judice and he will wait to see how the Election Commission handles their appeal for registration under a different name.
“Will make a comment in this regard after EC’s step,” he said replying to a reporter’s question after a training programme organised for the sub registrars at Judicial Administration Training Institute in the city.
His remarks came amid reports that all leaders of newly launched Bangladesh Democratic Party (BDP) that sought EC’s registration belong to Jamaat and its student front Shibir. BDP filed for registration on Wednesday.
In 2013, the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami with the EC illegal effectively banning it from taking part in general elections. In 2018, the EC formally deregistered the Islamic fundamentalist party as it failed to fulfill its prerequisites.
However, Jamaat is still operating as a legal political party amid calls from the secular forces to ban it for its role in the genocide during the Liberation War it vehemently opposed.
Responding to another question on Jamaat leaders’ trial for war crimes the law minister said the AL government is determined to bring the war criminals of 1971 under justice, which is a proven fact.
Also read: Jamaat-e-Islami can get registered if conditions are met, says commissioner Alamgir
In reply to another question on the trial of Jamaat for its role against the Liberation War, Huq reiterated that it requires some changes in the law and it’s under process.
“I have mentioned earlier we need some changes in law to proceed with the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and we have already sent the amendment to the Cabinet Division. Very soon we will pass a law in this regard and begin the trial,” he added.
Government will take immediate steps to begin the trial if it finds necessary, he added.
On Wednesday, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said that Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami can get registration under a different name if they fulfill all the conditions.
The deadline for new political parties to apply for registration expires on October 30.
Govt won’t send Khaleda back to jail before election: Law Minister
The government will not send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia back to jail before the next national election, Law Minister Anisul Huq said today (October 27, 2022).
The minister made the remark in response to a question from reporters, after a training programme organised for sub-registrars at Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.
The government has no plan to change the decision of suspending Khaleda Zia’s sentence as per section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) with two conditions, Anisul added.
Read more: Gatco graft case: Charge framing hearing against Khaleda deferred to Jan 29
On September 19, the government extended the suspension of Khaleda’s jail sentence for six more months.
Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail sentence for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020.
The government extended her conditional release in two corruption cases several times.
Read more: Law to determine Khaleda Zia’s election eligibility: Law Minister
The former prime minister was sent to Old Dhaka’s Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
The 76-year-old BNP chief Khaleda Zia has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release from jail. A special team of her personal physicians has been overseeing her treatment.
Read AL wants to score in empty field: BNP
Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension to be extended by 6 months: Law Minister
The jail term suspension period of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be extended by another six months, Law Ministry said today.
Law Minister Anisul Huq told UNB: “The security services division under the Home Ministry will issue a gazette notification in this regard.”
Khaleda Zia will receive treatment from home and she will not be allowed to go abroad during this period, he said.
Also read: Family seeks further extension of Khaleda’s suspended prison sentence
Recently Khaleda’s family filed a petition before the Home Ministry seeking her unconditional release. They also sought permission from the Home Minister to allow Khaleda to go abroad for her treatment.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail term for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020.
The government extended her conditional release in the two corruption cases several times.
The former prime minister was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
Also read: Khaleda’s conditional release to be extended once petition is filed: Law Minister
She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
The 76-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release. A special team of her personal physicians has been overseeing her treatment.
Khaleda’s conditional release to be extended once petition is filed: Law Minister
The government will extend the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence in two corruption cases, if her family files petition, Law Minister Anisul Huq said today (September 10, 2022).
The law minister said this while talking to reporters after attending a training programme of judges at Bangladesh Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.
“If we receive any petition from Khaleda Zia’s family, the tenure of her conditional release will be definitely extended,” he said.
Also read: Khaleda returns home from hospital
Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail term for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020.
The government extended her conditional release in the two corruption cases several times.
The former prime minister was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
Also read: Khaleda being deprived of due treatment: Fakhrul
The 76-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release from jail. A special team of her personal physicians has been overseeing her treatment.
Bachelet didn’t express any concern over Bangladesh situation: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet did not raise any concern regarding the human rights situation but both sides discussed a number of issues.
He said the issues included Digital Security Act (DSA), writer late Mustaq Ahmed who was arrested under the DSA and died later; training of personnel of the law enforcement agencies on HR aspects, freedom of press and freedom of speech; and the overall rights issues.
The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highly values human rights issues as she is also the victim of human rights violations, minister Huq told reporters after his meeting with Bachelet at State guesthouse Padma on Sunday afternoon.
“I strongly upheld it (to UN rights chief),” said the minister, adding that Bangladesh always, specially the government of Sheikh Hasina, upholds human rights and works on how its violations can be stopped by enforcing laws. “Bangladesh will always remain active.”
Asked whether the UN rights chief voiced any concerns, minister Huq said, “No, there were no concerns but discussions.”
Read: UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet in city
He said they had discussions on many issues and he reiterated those issues on the DSA in the meeting which he already shared with the media here in the past months.
Huq said there are ongoing discussions with her office on the best practices of DSA and he received a report in this regard. He said they take a decision on further steps he goes through the report.
The Law minister said the UN rights chief asked about Mustaq Ahmed but she did not raise further questions once the Minister read out Mustaq’s post mortem report.
He said they laid emphasis on training for the personnel of the law enforcement agencies on HR issues.
No more caretaker government in Bangladesh: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said that as the highest court of the country has declared caretaker government system illegal, there won’t be any such government in the country before the next general elections.
The minister added that the government will abide by this decision because it believes in the rule of law.
The minister was speaking to journalists after attending an event titled ‘National Stakeholder Consultation on Institutional of Paralegal Approach’ at a city hotel.
“The Election Commission has been established following laws of the land to conduct elections. The current commission is capable of holding a free and fair election. So there won’t be any need of anything else,” said Anisul.
Read: Law Minister contracts Covid-19
Anisul reiterated that elections are held under partisan governments all over the world. Same will happen in Bangladesh too.
The minister hoped that all the political parties will join the elections that will be held under the current government.
Replying to a question, Anisul said that if any leader or activist from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is in jail for political reasons, he/she will be freed. But this won’t be the case for those who are convicted in cases.
“In the second scenario, the detainees will need the court’s help to come out of jail,” Anisul said.
Also read: Cases under DSA decline: Law Minister
The event was presided over by Md Golam Sarwar, Secretary of Law and Justice Division. Ambassador of European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, High Commissioner of the UK to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson and Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh Achim Troster, among others, spoke in the event.
Law Minister contracts Covid-19
Law Minister Anisul Haque has tested positive for Covid-19, says an official of the ministry on Saturday.
He tested positive on Thursday and has been taking treatment at home, the official said.
The law minister is now doing fine and his body temperature remains normal with light coughing.
US envoy discusses DSA with law minister
Bangladesh and the United States on Sunday discussed updating the Digital Security Act (DSA) so that it prevents cybercrime without curtailing the freedom of speech or independence of the press.US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met Law Minister Anisul Huq to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and the importance of ensuring freedom of expression.
Also read: UK envoy lauds climate expert Dr. Saleemul Huq
Edible oil price to come down soon: Law Minister
The price of edible oil in the country will come down very soon due to various initiatives taken by the government, said Law Minister Anisul Huq on Friday.
"The price of edible oil has not increased so much in the last 40 in the world like now which has affected Bangladesh" he said while addressing a special extended meeting of Kasba Upazila Awami League at Kasba Upazila Parishad Auditorium in Brahmanbaria.
The minister said the government has taken all possible steps to control prices.
He also urged the people to be patient now.
Regarding the newly formed election commission, the law minister said, “Hopefully, they will arrange the election for district councils.”
Read: LGRD minister blames soaring prices of essentials on pandemic & war
He also said, “If there is a need to amend the law, the government will try to do so as soon as possible for the sake of the ( district council) election.”
Kasba upazila Awami League vice-president Mojibur Rahman, joint general secretary Mahabubul Bari Chowdhury Montu, Kasba upazila parishad chairman Rashedul Kawser Bhuiyan and Kasba Municipality Mayor Golam Hakkani, were present at the meeting, among others.