The parliament
can always make the
necessary changes to make the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 more effective. Any law, however tough on paper, will not be effective if its implementation
mechanisms are
not in place
No verdict in Anti-Terrorism Act cases in five years
According to media reports 350 cases were filed against members of illegal extremist outfits under the anti-terror law in the last five years. However not a single case has been finally disposed off yet. It is indeed a matter of grave seriousness that provisions in the law itself is making it extremely difficult for quick dispensation of justice. From filing of the case, investigation, submission of charge-sheet and the court taking the case into cognizanceall four steps must be approved by the home ministry.
This obviously cumbersome process leads to further slowing down of our slothful criminal justice system which is bursting at the seams. Once the courts take up the case there are further complications. There are allegations that lackadaisical attitude of the public prosecutors are also a factor in the slow dispensation of justice. The role of the police also leaves a lot to be desired. It is their responsibility to produce the witnesses and they often fail to do so in these cases.
The threat of extremism must not be underestimated. If the process of justice is so long it can only embolden these elements. These groups have also developed a nexus with smuggling syndicates, gangsters, international terrorists, outlawed groups and remnants of defunct terrorist groups, benefiting from each other. We know that the current government has adopted a zero-tolerance towards terrorism and has denied the use of its territory for any terrorist groups for perpetrating terrorist activities either inside or outside the country. It has so far, proscribed five terrorist outfits- JMB, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HT), Harkat-ul-Jihad, Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) and Shahadat-e-al-Hikma. Bangladesh has been cited as a success story in addressing the menace of terrorism, in many world forums. However, despite all the successes, there remain numerous challenges in the fight against terrorism in Bangladesh. And the main challenge is quick legal action against extremists. The parliament can always make the necessary changes to make the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 more effective. Any law, however tough on paper, will not be effective if its implementation mechanisms are not in place.
Prompt and exemplary punishment will definitely act as a deterrent against those who are against the fundamental principle of this republic. Bangladeshis are generally moderate in their views and few want this country to become a haven for extremists. However any sign of complacency will be interpreted as weakness by the fundamentalists. And as the saying goes justice delayed is justice denied.
