Speakers at a view exchange meeting on Saturday recommended punishment for those who file false cases in order to harass innocent people.
They opined that the government should amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) introducing the provision to punish the “ill-motivated “plaintiffs.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has organised the view exchange meeting on “Promoting access to justice and human rights in Bangladesh” at a city hotel.
Among others, law minister Shafique Ahmed, state minister for law advocate Quamrul Islam, Attorney-general Mahbub-e- Alam and acting IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, DMP commissioner Benazir Ahmed and UNDP country director Pauline Tamesis spoke in the discussion.
While addressing the view exchange, law minister Shafique said: “The CrPC 1998 is being amended in a bid to avoid unnecessary delay in legal procedure.”
He said: “We can settle cases on trivial matters outside of court by arranging sessions inside the police station. Separate cells will also be introduced in order to investigate cases.”
“A calendar has to be made by arranging a free-trial conversation in a bid to fix the date of hearing and number of witnesses,” he added.
The minister informed: “The provision of resolving cases on women and child repression will also be introduced in the amendment as maximum cases in this connection are reportedly false. People will not get any benefit of Crpc amendment until the incidents of filing false cases decreased.”
He said: “The pattern of committing crimes have been changed with the change of time. So, we should update the legal procedure of the country in order to cope with the existing demand.”
Meanwhile, he urged the media persons of the country to be more responsible while publishing stories on rape cases.
He said: “Exaggerated reports make the situation more painful for the victim and her family members.”
Quamrul Islam said: “95% cases of women repression are false and the incidents of filing false cases are increasing day by day.”
“The procedure of judgment is becoming slow as the judiciary has to be busy in dissolving the false cases,” he added.
He said: “Offenders get punishment in 100% cases in abroad but in our country some 10% to 20% offenders get punishment as most of the cases are false.”
Attorney-general Mahbub-e-Alam said: “The provision of second marriage should be banned in the new amendment. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the state to ease the sufferings of women.”
IGP shahidul Haque sought 15-day for submitting a written recommendation in this regard. He said that he has some observation and he will share those within 15-day.