United News of Bangladesh

The government has promulgated the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedies Ordinance, 2025 with the provisions of death penalty and life imprisonment for those to be found guilty of involvement in incidents of enforced disappearances. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law issued a gazette late on Monday (December 01). The Council of Advisers approved the draft of the ordinance on November 6. Jamaat Ameer appreciates move to try army officers linked to enforced disappearances, killings According to the ordinance, tribunals will be set up at district and divisional levels to deal with the cases of prevention and prosecution of enforced disappearances. Offences under the ordinance are non-bailable and non-compoundable. As per the ordinance, if the victim dies as a result of enforced disappearance or if the person cannot be found alive or dead even five years after the disappearance, the offender may be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. If any public servant or member of a law enforcement agency arrests, detains, abducts, or otherwise deprives a person of liberty and deny the act or concealing the fate or whereabouts of the person, thereby placing the individual outside the protection of the law may face life imprisonment or a prison term of up to 10 years, it says. Anyone found to have destroyed evidence of disappearance, or constructed, installed, or used secret detention centres for enforced disappearances may face up to seven years in prison. The ordinance also sets out penalties for senior officers or commanders of law enforcement agencies. It states that if a superior officer orders, authorises, approves, consents to or instigates the commission of such crimes by subordinates or participates in the crime he or she will face the same punishment prescribed for the offence. Warrants issued for arrest of Hasina, 29 others in 2 enforced disappearance cases A superior may also be punished if negligence, incompetence, or failure to maintain discipline or control enables subordinates to commit an enforced disappearance, the ordinance says. It further states that the location of an arrested person may be kept confidential ‘in the interest of state security’ until the person is produced before a magistrate. Trials may proceed in absentia if the accused is on the run.

The committee formed by the Ministry of Law to review and recommend the withdrawal of politically motivated and harassing cases has so far suggested lifting 4,615 cases. Headed by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, the committee has held six meetings to assess the cases and determine their merit for withdrawal, according to an update issued by the ministry on Thursday. The statement highlighted that during its 15-year tenure, the ousted Awami League government had filed numerous cases against people, which were deemed politically motivated or meant to harass opponents. Following the political changeover on August 5 last year, the interim government pledged to ensure justice by withdrawing such cases. Over 2,500 politically motivated cases likely to be withdrawn: Law Adviser The move aligns with its broader commitment to upholding the rule of law and rectifying politically motivated legal actions. Further recommendations from the committee are expected as the review process continues.

The Ministry of Law has recommended the extension of stay on the sentences of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for another six months in two graft cases.

A total of 20,938 people secured bail after their petitions were heard by virtual courts across the country in 10 days as of Thursday.