It serves the party in power, not justice

We are deeply disappointed by the House's passing of the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial Amendment) Bill, 2018 that has raised the jail term to seven years from five. The reason for our discomfiture is the intention behind passing this bill at this time. There is little doubt that this law has been passed not with the intention to serve the public better, but for political reasons—something we have also seen happen during previous regimes of both AL and BNP.

The Law in question was originally framed in 2002 and at that time this paper had criticised it for the same reason. In fact, as we had expressed our fear in an editorial at that time, various incarnations of this law have been introduced by successive governments—first by BNP then by AL then again by BNP.

It is an irony that AL, which had criticised the law in 2002 enacted by the BNP, has not only ensured its perpetuation, but increased the severity of the punishment also. It is equally ironical that the BNP is now crying hoarse against it.  

Not the cause of justice but political chastisement has been the underlying motive behind enacting the law. The way the jail terms have been increased with each regime change makes this intention clear.

Speedy trial is the demand of justice, and all courts must ensure that. But such motivated special dispensation does not serve the cause of justice but only the party in power. We urge the government to scrap a law that only serves to act as an instrument of political suppression, and instead focus on the timely disposal of all litigations.