Dhaka, Dec 18 (UNB) - Former Law Minister and BNP leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed on Friday urged the government to implement the historic judgment of High Court Division of the Supreme Court passed in 1998 regarding police remand to minimize torture in police custody.

Admitting his failure to implement the judgment during the BNP-led four-party alliance government, he said the judgment gave some specific guidelines with directions upon the government to bring necessary amendments in sections 54 and 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) regarding police remand.

Barrister Moudud made the remarks at a roundtable, titled `Police Remand with Special Emphasize on Moral, Legal and Practical Aspects’, held at the Jatiya Press Club in the city this (Friday) morning.

Centre for Strategic and Peace Studies (CSPS) organised the roundtable with its chairman Shah Abdul Hannan in the chair.

Speaking as chief guest at the roundtable, Barrister Moudud said the torture culture has been continuing even these days, but it had turned worst during the previous caretaker government. “Forget about our mistakes, we want to see its (HC judgment) implementation as we’ve bitter experience in police custody.”

He urged the government to ensure exemplary punishment for the key players of 1/11 episode including former Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, former Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Fakhrudin Ahmed and adviser Maj Gen (retd) Matin for the crimes they committed during the regime of military-controlled caretaker government.

“You know, even the present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was widely scandalized during the caretaker government… branded as extortionist.

So, the government should take legal action against those who had tarnished the images of politicians and subjected them to torture,” he said.

Moudud suggested the government to put the conspirators of 1/11 episode into jail without bail permission and give them the same treatment that they meted out to the politicians so they could realize what crimes they had committed.

“If the present government does not take legal steps, it’ll be proved that they had come to power by using the army,” he said adding that as the Awami League is in state power, they should not be afraid of General Moeen, Fakhruddin and company.

The former BNP law minister said the government should keep the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), one of the main intelligence agencies of Bangladesh, out of politics and civilian matters; otherwise, the present government will one day be the victims of DGFI in future.

On the present government’s reported plan to go back to the Consitution of 1972, he said it is impossible as “if you want to go
back to the ‘72 constitution, there is no way of declaring emergency in future and also continuing with the Special Powers Act.”

The government should work sincerely to minimize torture in police custody, he said adding that it is now a global issue being related to fundamental rights.

Accusing the present government as India-friendly government, Barrister Moudud said this government should take lesson from India on positive issues and protect the country’s interest at any cost.

Earlier, Supreme Court advocate Md Tajul Islam and former Home Secretary SM Jahrul Islam presented separate keynote papers at the discussion.

Both placed some recommendations to stop torture in police custody and eliminate violation of human rights.

Advocate Tajul Islam in his keynote paper said all concerned should develop mass awareness against torture by the police or other law enforcing agencies in the name of remand as well as about the legal position on remand.

He suggested that special measures should be taken to train police officers on morality, human rights, rights of a citizen and law of remand.

Tajul Islam also suggested the politicians for unanimous decision that whoever goes to power will not use police politically.

Former Secretary Barrister Haider Ali, Jatiya Press Club President Shawkat Mahmud and Dr Bazlur Rashid also took part in the discussion.