7 divisional spl tribunals to be formed

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the government will form seven special tribunals at seven divisional headquarters of the country to try and punish the offences of human trafficking, and curb such crimes.

District and session judges concerned will conduct the tribunals, which will be established under the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act 2012, the minister said while talking to reporters after a meeting with Swedish Ambassador Johan Frisell at his Secretariat office.

The minister said there were 557 cases, filed on charges of human trafficking, pending with different courts across the country. Charge sheets were submitted in 257 cases and trial proceedings of 12 cases have been finished, he said.

Meanwhile, a writ petition filed by the National Forum for Protection of Human Rights was moved before the High Court seeking its order on the government to immediately take steps to rescue the Bangladeshis stranded in sea and detained in different camps abroad.