The government has decided to extend the existing law for Speedy Trial Tribunal by five more years for effective and quick trial for crimes such as extortion, tender manipulation, vandalism and mugging.
The regular cabinet meeting yesterday approved the draft proposal for Law and Order Disruption Offence (Speedy Trial) Act placed by the home ministry to extend the term. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting. Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that it was the sixth extension of the law. The validity of the law expires on April 6.
It was earlier extended on April 6, 2012. The Act was first enacted on April 10, 2002 for two years.
The proposal says trials of a good number of cases are going on under this Act now. If the Act is nullified, the proceedings of the cases will stop and it may deteriorate the law and order of the country.
The proposal was brought considering the recent law and order across the country, a minister who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune. The proposal would be sent to parliament for a passage.
The ruling Awami League stood against the law when it was in opposition in 2002 terming it a “black law.”
Under a provision of the law, the Speedy Trial Tribunal, a special court, will have to dispose of a case within 90 working days of the cases being transferred to them. If the case cannot be disposed of in that time, another 30 working days would be granted.
Any aggrieved person would be entitled to appeal to the High Court against a judgement of the Speedy Trial Tribunal within 30 days of a ruling.