The deputy commissioners of police will order such detention for a period of one month. For detention of a longer period, the accused will have to be produced before and get approval of an advisory board as per constitutional provision.

"This law will not be used against anyone with political motivation," Law Minister Moudud Ahmed told reporters after a meeting of an inter-ministerial body formed to examine the draft Ant-Terrorism Act at his ministry. "We are looking into it carefully to ensure stopping of its political use," he said.

The proposed law designed to cover all aspects of terrorism and militancy provides up to capital punishment if the charge is proved, he said, adding that it will be "very strict" about bails. "The court has to be absolutely satisfied before granting one bail," Moudud said.

The draft has been prepared basing on all existing laws, including the Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Special Powers Act. Offences covered by the existing laws will, however, not be included in the new law, Moudud said.

The land's laws cannot take action against the persons, groups and political parties for militant activities and terror financing, he said.

"It has become very urgent to introduce a new law as terrorism and militancy have acquired a new dimension. New terms are coming in use and the militants are using substances that the existing laws are inadequate to cover," the law minister told reporters.

Countries like the UK and USA have laws for detention of militants and terrorists without trial, he told the BBC Bangla Service last night.

Trials under the new law will be completed in 90 days after formation of the charge. If the court fails to do so, it may seek two 30-day extensions as the whole trial must be completed in five months. Once the trial begins, it will continue without any recess, Moudud said.

The trial can be held at district and sessions judges' courts and, if needed, in tribunals.

The law will try those who will carry out terrorism in the name of Islam. Bangladeshi terrorists with international links will also be tried under it.

Asked if Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam and other militant leaders of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) will be tried under this law, Moudud said they are already being tried under the existing laws. But those who will be arrested after the new law is passed will be tried under it, he added.

On the possibility of any provision to stop religion-based politics, Moudud said the law will not have any provision that conflicts with the constitution.

On a letter of the finance ministry asking the committee to see if the issue of money laundering can be tagged with the new law, the meeting observed that the new law will cover any form of financing of terrorists and terrorism.

When the draft was sent to the cabinet committee for approval on March 13, the committee sent it back with some opinions and asked the law ministry to examine it further after studying the related existing laws.

It also formed the seven-member inter-ministerial committee on April 19 with Moudud as the head and asked it to complete examining the draft by May 18.

Other members of the committee are LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Health Minister Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, Communication Minister Nazmul Huda, Telecommunications Minister Barrister Aminul Haq and State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.

After their first meeting on April 27, the committee sat yesterday but could not finish examining the draft law. Moudud hoped that it will take another meeting or two to finalise the draft and that it will be passed during the budget session.

Yesterday's meeting attended by Mannan Bhuiyan, Nazmul Huda, Aminul Haq and Babar decided to send a letter to the cabinet secretary seeking extension of time for one month more to complete its task.