Law to protect victims, witnesses on cards
The government is working to formulate a new law to protect victims and witnesses of crimes, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed has said.
“Fair trial of many important cases is being hampered due to insecurity of the victims and witnesses," he said.
The minister has been expressing concern over the issue since taking office nearly two years ago.
Many witnesses feel insecure to appear before the court or report a crime to the law enforcers, he observed at a workshop in the city yesterday.
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) organised the programme titled “Victim and witness protection: an imperative measure for an inherent right” at Brac Centre Inn.
Shafique, however, said it is impossible for the government to provide protection for all the victims and witnesses due to resource shortages. The government, therefore, will identify those who need protection.
A ballpark estimate is that at least 60% cases in every court suffer for witnesses are unwilling to testify, a number of public prosecutors at Dhaka judge's court told The Daily Star in August this year.
They said numerous are the instances where cases could not be resolved even in 20 years due to absence of witnesses.
Other discussants at the workshop said endurance of a country's legal system is much dependent on how the victims and witnesses are protected, and also how the accused persons' rights are upheld.
"Protection is a right of every victim," said Ridwanul Hoque, assistant professor of law at Dhaka University. Physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing of a victim must be ensured, he added.
He also opined that Bangladesh can consider forming “protection units” that many western countries have introduced to safeguard victims and witnesses.
Chanchal Mukherjee, assistant programme manager of BNWLA, presented the keynote paper.
"The existing laws are insufficient to protect victims,” he said, adding that many victims dare not file a case for security reasons.
People harassing the victims or witnesses must face severe punishment, Mukherjee, an advocate, said quoting a draft law that BNWLA prepared to protect victims and witnesses.
BNWLA recommends shelter, special police protection and healthcare service for the victims and witnesses for free.
Other speakers said rights of the accused persons should also be upheld.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, District Judge and Director of National Legal Aid Service Sayed Aminul Islam, BNWLA President Fawzia Karim Firoze, Vice-president Fahima Nasrin and Executive Director Salma Ali, among others, spoke at the programme.
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