Dhaka to ban chemical weapon production, use

Bangladesh as a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is going to enact a law imposing a permanent ban on development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons in its military defence system.

The CWC implementation cell at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has already prepared a draft bill, which is likely to be placed in parliament in the next session to make it a law with a provision for strict punishment for its violation, sources said.

The state parties to the convention are determined to achieve effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction.

"As a signatory to the CWC, we have to enact a law to implement the convention," former army chief and defence advisor to the prime minister Mahbubur Rahman yesterday told The Daily Star. He said the enactment of the law would help Bangladesh uphold its positive image in the campaign for world peace.

Bangladesh earlier signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), an accord against nuclear proliferation and test of nuclear weapons.

Apart from this, Bangladesh army has already started destroying all its stockpile of antipersonnel mines, the cheapest defensive weapon against an aggressor.

Among the South Asian countries, India and Pakistan did not sign the CTBT while Myanmar and Bhutan did not ratify the CWC, which Bangladesh signed in 1993.

Once the 'The Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act-2005' is passed, a high-powered 'National Authority' will be formed to supervise handling of chemicals both in the government and private level, Mahbub said.

"If anyone wants to use chemicals peacefully, he will be allowed," he added.

The draft bill proposes rigorous punishment for the violation of any provision of the act. "Violation of the provisions of this act shall be an offence punishable in the court of law (by) up to 14 years of imprisonment and fine of Tk 50,000."

The former army chief, also chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry, attended a conference of the Organisation for Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague on November 26-28 and pledged full implementation of the convention of banning chemical weapons in Bangladesh.

He said the National Authority would maintain liaison with OPCW and state parties to the convention and supervise the full compliance of all chemical industrial sectors with the provisions of CWC. In the case of conflict between the CWC and the provisions of relevant laws of the country, the provision of CWC will prevail, Mahbub added.

"We want to see South Asia to be the first zone free from tension and conflict, a zone of peace and harmony, free from terrorism, free from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, all weapons of mass destruction," Mahbub told The Hague conference attended by the representatives of 167 countries signatory to the convention.

"In the region of South Asia, it is my country Bangladesh sandwiched between two nuclear powers (India and Pakistan) strongly opposes proliferation and supports ban on possession or production of nuclear weapons," Mahbub told the meet.

On his return, Mahbub met Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Saturday and briefed her about the outcome of the conference. Sources said the prime minister had told him that the bill would be placed in the House at its next session.