The government is actively working to address delays in criminal trials, according to Law Adviser Asif Nazrul.
In an interview with a national daily on Friday, Nazrul discussed various measures the government is implementing to speed up the judicial process, including the trial of an eight-year-old rape victim who tragically died after the assault in Magura.
In response to a question, Asif Nazrul said, “There is always a fear that if the case is disposed of in a hurry, injustice may occur and misuse may occur. I have said that the 180 days in our existing law will be reduced to 90 days. Even 180 days will seem hasty to many. Along with this, we are taking some other steps. We have not only reduced the trial time; we are trying to eliminate the reasons for delays in trials.”
Regarding the bail of the accused in the rape case, he said, the bail you are talking about in Dinajpur was granted by the High Court. We, the state law ministry, have taken the initiative and appealed against it through the Attorney General's office. This bail has been canceled in the Appellate Division. Our proposed law does not provide for bail.
The draft says that bail will be granted, but after a certain period of time, the judge will consider whether the person getting bail is creating any disruption in the judicial process or is behaving in a threatening manner towards the victim. If he sees it, then he can compulsorily check it after a certain period of time and cancel the bail.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
