PM For Speedy Trial Of Recent Atrocities

"Trial of the persons who give order, provide finance should be held in a very stern and exemplary manner along with bomb makers and supplier as intelligence came up with the information that they are planning for more grievous incident," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the officials of the Ministry of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs during a visit to the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here today.

Terming the current activities of BNP as a futile exercise, the Prime Minister said their disturbances undoubtedly could degrade the country's image abroad despite they gained nothing from the evil practice.

Minister for Law Anisul Huq also spoke on the occasion while secretary of the ministry Abu Saleh Sk. Md. Zahirul Haque, secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Mohammad Shahidul Haque and senior officials of the ministry and Prime Minister Office (PMO) were present.

Pointing out the unprecedented development of Bangladesh in the areas of economy Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh emerged as a surprise internationally for its recent success in the economic, social and political indicators. "BNP and its allies want to make us a subject of sympathy," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government striving for establishing rule of law, put in place a strong judicial system so that people get justice, live in peace and proceed to their economic prosperity. In the past her government has carried out the work and in future it will continue, she said urging the officials to provide suggestion and work together to build up a strong and effective justice delivery system.

She said the government has set goal to make the country as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. "It's possible to achieve under a positive thinking, direction and long term vision," she said.

Urging the judicial officers to work for reducing the backlogging of cases and curb procrastination in the trial process she said the legal system should be simplified to ensure easy access of the people to judiciary. "However, we should be careful about the real criminals so that they cannot come out using the loopholes of the laws," she said.

In this regard Sheikh Hasina said the government has a plan for new recruitment in the judiciary and develop the existing judicial training centre.

The prime Minister also urged the officials to strengthen the existing legal aid committees up to upazila level to help the poor litigants who are unable to move their case in the court due to their financial constraints.

Reiterating her government's commitment to uphold the independence of judiciary, the Prime Minister said trials of Bangabandhu Murder Case, BDR Mutiny case and 10-Truck Arms Haul case in Chittagong are manifestation of the government's sincerity and commitment.

The trial of the Bangabandhu Murder Case has freed the nation from malediction while trial of two other cases has brightened the country's image, handing down the punishment to the big conspirators.

She said many people came up with the suggestion to constitute a special tribunal for the trial of the Bangabandhu Murder Case. "But I preferred to the existing judicial method under which most of the people of the country get justice," she said.

In this regard the Prime Minister underlined the importance of holding the trial of the war criminals and said their trial would free the country from another stigma. The culprits torched down homes, put forth our mothers and sisters to the hands of Pakistani soldiers and went for indiscriminate killings across the country making the whole country a trail of destruction.

The war criminals dared to commit similar offenses in 2013, 2014 and at present as they were not brought to justice. Many of those notorious criminals were put behind the bar by Bangabandhu government after independence, but military dictator freed them from jail giving impunity, she said.

Laying importance on strong cooperation among the three wings of the state- judiciary, legislative and executive- the Prime Minister said a country cannot progress without cooperation among these wings.

She said judiciary is the last resort of the people for justice. A country cannot move forward without proper functioning of the judicial system.

Highlighting the steps taken by her government for development of the judicial system Sheikh Hasina said projects of around Taka 870.37 crore are being implemented for construction of Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in 64 districts.

Under the projects all court buildings were renovated and Judicial Training Institute was established. The government has also taken all possible steps for development of the legislative system along with formation of a legislative draft wing, she said.

Pointing out the country's political situation after killing of the Bangabandhu in 1975 the Prime Minister said after that massacre the country reeled on lawlessness for long time. "Military dictators ruled the country suspending the constitution," she added.

After a long struggle of the people, she said, democracy and rule of law has been restored and people are now enjoying the benefit of the constitutional rule and democracy.

"People of Bangladesh now dream of being developed like Singapore or Malaysia. But Bangladesh would have become a developed nation before those countries if Bangabandhu was not murdered," the Prime Minister said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol