BNP castigates govt for passing Anti-terrorism Bill

Opposition BNP described the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 passed on Tuesday as contrary to the constitution saying that it will be used to snatch people’s basic rights.

“It’s a more regressive, repressive and dangerous law than that of the Special Powers Act passed by the Awami League in 1974. This black law is contrary to the constitution,” BNP MP Moudud Ahmed told a press briefing at the parliament media centre.

“The law will be used to snatch people’s human rights, basic rights and constitutional rights. It has been formulated in a bid to add a new dimension to their (govt) ongoing repressive acts against the opposition and intensify their repression further,” he said.

Apprehending that the amended law will make police autocrat, the former law minister said the law enforcers will be able to do whatever they want using the law. “The police have been given the power to subdue the opposition by abusing the law.”

Mentioning that terrorist acts have been redefined in the amended bill, he said a provision has been incorporated amending the 19^th clause enabling police to accuse any person instead of organisations under the law. “Police will be able to punish anyone abusing the law.”

He went on: “The horrible aspect of the law is that there’s no scope for giving bail to the accused as the offences will be considered as cognizable under it.”

Moudud said people will not accept the law as it will not bring anything good for the country other than contributing to fomenting political violence.

Addressing the briefing, another senior BNP leader MK Anwar said such an autocratic law cannot be passed in a civilised country.

He said the government amended the law to use it in oppressing the opposition to cling to power. ”The government has exposed its weakness through amending the law.”

Earlier in the day, the opposition MPs, led by Moudud, staged a brief walkout from Parliament protesting the passage of the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013.

Just before its passage, Moudud took the floor and said the bill, which is soon going to be passed in the House, has been “formulated not to curb terrorism, but to subdue the opposition.”

“This will be identified as a black law. It’s worse than the Special Powers Act passed by the Awami League in 1974,” he said.

Moudud said the law would be abused to oppress the opposition as the law enforcers are given all necessary power to subdue the opposition. “We think this bill shouldn’t be passed by the House. As the Home Minister proposed passing the bill, we’re staging a walkout in protest.”

Later, the bill was passed allowing the courts to accept videos, still photographs and audio clips used in social media.

Source: UNB Connect