By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
In the wake of recent outcry over hundreds of Bangladeshis and Myanmar’s Rohingyas stranded in Thailand, Indonesia and stuck on boats at seas, the government yesterday renewed its pledge in the parliament to curb human trafficking at all costs.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq informed the legislature that a total 2,035 cases have been filed under the human trafficking deterrence and
suppression law till June 22.
“Seven special tribunals are being set up at seven divisional headquarters of the country to try and give deterrent punishment to the culprits involved in human trafficking,” he said while responding to a question of treasury member Mamunur Rashid Kiron.
The minister said district and session judges of these districts would conduct the tribunals to stop human trafficking, which has now become a burning issue.
He said that a proposal for forming those tribunals has already been sent to the public administration ministry and until the tribunals are formed, the women and children repression prevention tribunals were assigned to deal with those cases.
“There are 2,035 cases filed on charges of human trafficking with different courts. Of those, 419 cases in the meantime have been cleared while the rest 1,616 cases are under trial,” the minister added.
Replying to another query of treasury bench member Ayen Uddin, the law minister said the present government has taken various steps for quick disposal of civil and criminal cases.
He said after the amendment of the civil procedures, the authority concerned is contemplating this amendment to remove the pending cases while 64 legal aid officers of National Legal Aid Services are providing lawful assistance in each of 64 districts.
“Besides, a case management committee has been formed in each district headquarters for quick disposal of the cases. Various monitoring teams led by solicitor are working to ensure quick proposal of old criminal cases,” he added.
The minister, in reply of a question of lawmaker Abul Kalam, said the vested quarters, involved in killing innocent people through arson and petrol bombs in the name of strikes and blockade, will be brought to book.
“The registration of any human rights organisation is not the jurisdiction of my ministry but punitive action, as per the country’s existing law will be taken if any complaint is found against anybody in this connection.”
