Dhaka: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul announced today that new amendments have been integrated into the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to prevent the filing of fake cases and the harassment of innocent individuals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Nazrul shared details of the amendment during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following an advisory council meeting. He expressed the government’s concern over the issues of false case filings and financial exploitation of innocents, which have been persistent problems during their tenure. To address this, a significant amendment to the CrPC has been introduced, aiming to rectify these challenges.
Dr Nazrul explained that under the new provision, 173(a), high-ranking police officials, including the Commissioner of Police or Superintendents of Police, can instruct an investigation officer to submit a preliminary probe report to the magistrate for cases under their jurisdiction. This provision allows the magistrate to exempt individuals from charges during the pre-trial stage if there is no evidence against them. The adviser expressed hope that this measure would enable the police and court administration to collaborate effectively and curb illegal monetary exchanges related to arrests and prosecutions in such cases. A gazette notification regarding this amendment is scheduled for release tomorrow.
In addition to the CrPC amendment, Dr Nazrul mentioned progress in discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, regarding the establishment of a mission in Bangladesh. A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) was approved in principle during the advisory council meeting, with plans to finalize and sign the MoU after further discussions.
Addressing the recent rape case in Muradnagar, Cumilla, Dr Nazrul expressed the government’s shock and commitment to taking swift action. He confirmed that the main accused and those responsible for disseminating related media on social platforms have been apprehended. Emphasizing the government’s dedication to justice, he referenced past timely amendments to relevant laws and assured that the current incident would receive priority for expedited legal proceedings.