Speedy trial law to remain valid until 2024, Bill approved

Dhaka, May 27 (UNB) – The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for extending its validity till 2024.

The approval came at the Cabinet meeting held here with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

“The duration of the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) Act, 2002 expired in April 2019. So, its validity has been extended by more five years,” said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam while briefing reporters at the Secretariat after the Cabinet meeting.

“Since the law still has the effectiveness (usefulness) as there’re many sensitive cases which are needed to be disposed of quickly,” he said replying to a question as to why the validity of the existing law is being extended.

Shafiul Alam, however, said no change has been brought in the content of the law.

Besides, the Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of the Customs Bill, 2019 giving the government the authority to formulate rules under the proposed law.

“In October, 2018, the Cabinet cleared the same bill. But the tenure of the then 9th parliament expired before the bill was passed. So, the bill has again been placed at the cabinet just to follow formalities,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

The bill will make the Customs Act 1969 a time-befitting and modern law.

In the beginning of the Cabinet meeting, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi handed a memento gift and a letter of Belarus government over to the Prime Minister.

ROSATOM, the State Atomic Energy Corporation of the Russian Federation, conferred an honorary medal to Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman for contribution of e-development of nuclear industry.

ROSATOM also awarded a special certificate to Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant of Bangladesh under the best project in the field of development of human resources category.

At the cabinet meeting, the medal and certificate were handed over to the Prime Minister.

The Cabinet congratulated Bangladesh National Cricket Team on winning the recent tri-nation ODI series held in Irelands as well as Bangladesh Under-19 Women’s Football Team for being a joint champion in Bangamata U-19 Women’s International Gold Cup 2019.

The Cabinet adopted two condolence motions over the death of expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of prominent Bangladeshi singer Subir Nandi and Nazrul Sangeet exponent and researcher Khalid Hossain.