DHAKA, June 11, (V7N) — Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said that in state governance, taking correct decisions based on justice, logic, and the law is more important than popularity.
“To ensure justice, even in cases involving the most heinous crimes, the rule of law, due process of law, and the right of the accused to legal representation must be ensured,” he said.
The minister said this as the chief guest at the launch of a research report titled “Legal Representation in Death Penalty Cases in Bangladesh: An Empirical and Conceptual Analysis,” and a seminar organised by the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS), this evening at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at the University of Dhaka.
The minister said that although the death penalty has been abolished in many countries around the world, the question of abolishing it in the current social context of Bangladesh is extremely complex. He noted that in cases of heinous crimes such as rape and murder of children, it is not possible to ignore society’s expectation of justice.
However, he emphasised that regardless of the nature of the offence, every accused person has the right to a fair trial.
Referring to the Ramisa murder case, Md Asaduzzaman said that the government has demonstrated its commitment to establishing the rule of law through the arrest of the accused soon after the incident, swift investigation, DNA testing, submission of the charge sheet, and completion of trial proceedings. At the same time, he added that due process of law was ensured by appointing a defence lawyer for the accused at state expense.
The law minister further said that the government is expanding legal aid services to ensure the constitutional right of access to justice. He noted that legal aid committees have already been strengthened in every district of the country, and initiatives have been taken to enhance coordination among various government and non-government organisations to bring legal assistance to the doorstep of ordinary people.
The minister said that initiatives are also underway to make Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and mediation more effective, thereby reducing case backlogs and minimising public harassment. At the same time, he stressed the importance of regular training to enhance the professional skills of lawyers.
University of Dhaka Vice Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof Dr Muhammad Ekramul Haque, CALS Director Prof Dr Shahnaj Huda, and senior jurist Barrister Sara Hossain also addressed the function, among others.
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