Voicing concern over inserting a provision of taking approval from the government for arresting any public servant in any criminal case, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded cancellation of it from the draft of the ‘Civil Service Bill 2015’.
In a statement on Tuesday, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said as per the country’s constitution, there is no scope to adopt a special view for a special section when they commit any crime.
“This provision is contrary to the equal rights of citizens as enshrined in the constitution,” he added.
About the fundamental rights of citizens, article 27 of the constitution says: “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.”
But, the Cabinet on Monday endorsed a draft of the Civil Service Bill 2015 that makes taking government clearance mandatory to arrest public servants on criminal charges before charge-sheet is prepared.
Though there is a specific instruction in the constitution, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, a controversial and backward provision is included in a long-awaiting bill being prepared for the civil servants, which surprised people. “Because there is no bar to arresting all public representatives, including parliament members or ministers, in criminal cases,” he added.
Source: Prothom Alo
