Judiciary flourished under Hasina govt: Law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the governments that held power immediately before Sheikh Hasina's election, were most reluctant to ensure the independence and proper facilities including the salaries and allowances of judges.

"There was such a situation in the judiciary in between 1988 and 1993-1994 that jail sentences of convicts expired but they could not approach the court for finishing trial proceedings of the cases against them," he said.

Considering the situation, chief adviser of the then caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman had taken steps to commute jail sentences of many convicts and freed them from jail, he explained.

He said this while speaking as chief guest at a seminar on "Development  Planning Experience on Bangladesh (Following a planned path of growth with vision)" in Dhaka.

Legislative and,parliamentary affairs division of the law ministry organised the event at Cirdap Auditorium with the division's Secretary Md Mainul Kabir in the chair.

Senior Secretary to the Planning Commission (finance division) Dr Shamul Alam and legislative and parliamentary affairs division's joint secretary Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin also spoke on the occasion.

"Only the Sheikh Hasina-led government has taken necessary measures to reduce the backlog of cases. We are taking time to reduce this backlog. Judges cannot be created and systems cannot be replaced overnight," said the law minister.

The minister said there was no adequate infrastructure facilities for the judiciary when it was separated from the executive on November 1, 2007.

The present government has appointed judges, ensured logistical facilities, and constructed infrastructures to reduce the backlog of cases and to ensure justice for people quickly.

"Besides, the government has introduced the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system for disposal of the cases outside the court and we of course will get the good result," added the minister.