The bill to extend the Speedy Trial Act, which deals with serious crimes such as extortions, threats and vandalism, by five years has been placed in parliament.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan tabled the bill ‘The Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) (amendment) Act, 2002’ during the session on Tuesday (Jun 25).
It was forwarded to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Home Ministry for further scrutiny.
On May 27, the cabinet cleared the extension of the Act, which was enacted in 2002 for two years, when the BNP-Jamaat alliance government was in office.
Its tenure was extended several times.
The law is used to prosecute offences, such as extortion, traffic blockade, damaging vehicles and property, mugging, robbery and similar criminal conducts.
The law enables the quick disposal of criminal cases involving extortion, threats, obstruction to traffic, damage to vehicles and properties.
The list also includes hijacking, piracy, acts of terror and mayhem, and disruptions during tender purchase.
But almost all parties have condemned the law when in the opposition, claiming that the ruling party uses it as an instrument of harassment.
Every district has one or more speedy trial tribunals. A conviction under it means two to five years of rigorous imprisonment or fines.
A provision is there to ensure that cases are resolved within 120 days but allows additional 60 days.