Ensure swift, hassle-free justice for people: PM to judges, lawyers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the judges and lawyers to ensure people's right to quick and hassle-free justice.

"Getting justice quickly, less expensively and hassle-free is the right of the people. This can boost people's confidence and trust. Although we have our confidence and trust in the judiciary, (we'll request) to put some attention to it," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the newly built Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Building in Dhaka virtually from her official residence.

She said that till June 2020, there are some 3,794,908 cases pending in the courts.

She requested the judges and lawyers to find a way for quick verdicts in the cases.

"Let not so many cases pile up. Please be cordial and take steps to complete these trials. We'll extend our cooperation from the government's side if needed, but we don't want such a huge number of cases to remain pending," she said.

The Prime Minister said that the Awami League government always pledged to establish rule of law. "Whenever we came to power, we ensured that first, we put our special attention to establish the right of justice for all. We work in that direction," she said.

Recalling the miserable days of her and her younger sister's wait for justice for the August 15 killing where her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated with other members of the family, she said that no-one should suffer in the 'absence of justice' like they did.

Sheikh Hasina said the rape of women and children is a heinous act and noted that to give offenders the toughest punishment and control this crime, the government has already promulgated Women and Children Repression Prevention Ordinance 2020. The cabinet has already passed it and it will be placed in Parliament in the next session and will be passed as a law.

Talking about drugs, she said that this is a big problem in the society as this menace destroys a family totally. She said that the government is continuing its drive against drugs.

"We want the persons involved in drugs to be punished quickly so that society and families can be relieved from the hands of drugs," she said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that when three organs of the country -- legislative, judiciary and executive -- work as complementary to each other, then the country can run properly.

"In our Constitution that directive has been given very properly. The independence of the judiciary was also stated in the Constitution of 1972 very well," she said.

She also urged the judiciary to take steps for introducing virtual courts in all jails across the country like it has been established in the Keraniganj Jail.

The Prime Minister briefly described various development activities of the government for the development of the judiciary.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Law Minister Anisul Huq and Law Secretary Md Golam Sarwar also spoke at the programme.