Zero tolerance for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings: Law minister
Asaduzzaman said the government’s objective was to ensure justice rather than target any particular individual.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today (17 September) said the government has maintained a "zero tolerance" policy towards enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which he said have fallen to nearly zero over the past six months.
"We have received no allegations of police filing false cases against political opponents," he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at an event marking US Constitution Day at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University. The university's Faculty of Law and the US Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised the event.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
On trials related to crimes against humanity, Asaduzzaman said the government's objective was to ensure justice rather than target any particular individual.
"No individual is our target; our target is to complete the trial of crimes against humanity," he said, adding that the prosecution had sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in the cases before the judicial system.
Speaking about the Human Rights Commission Act, the minister said the law had been drafted to ensure the rights of citizens were protected, despite criticism of some provisions.
He highlighted the inclusion of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OP-CAT) in the Act, saying Bangladesh had also ensured representation of the Press Club and ethnic minority groups in the selection committee.
Unlike some neighbouring countries where the prime minister leads the human rights commission selection committee, Bangladesh's committee is headed by the speaker and includes opposition leaders, he said.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen, speaking as guest of honour, said the US Constitution begins with the phrase "We the People".
Referring to Bangladesh's constitutional development, he said issues including separation of powers, judicial independence, religious freedom and consensus-building were also important to the country's constitutional framework.
He said constitutional governance, the rule of law and public participation were essential for societies seeking to govern themselves.
