Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said that the proposed Prevention and Remedies for Enforced Disappearance Act is in its final stage and will soon be placed before the Cabinet for approval.

The government aims to introduce the bill in the next session of Parliament, he said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of a two-day “Basic Mediation Training for Legal Professionals” programme held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Saturday. The programme was organized under a project titled “Enhancing Access to Justice through Mediation and Improvement of Civil Case Management.”

He said the draft law had undergone extensive inter-ministerial review, consultations with stakeholders and scrutiny by the Secretaries’ Committee before being finalized.

“The government had announced during the first session of the 13th Parliament that the proposed law would be further reviewed and refined before being presented in Parliament. Following several rounds of consultations and assessments, the draft has now been finalized and is awaiting Cabinet approval,” the minister said.

On Sheikh Hasina’s Political Activities

Responding to a question regarding the political activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India and has been sentenced to death, the minister said the matter would be dealt with by the relevant country in accordance with its own laws and responsibilities.

He added that the Bangladesh government was continuously reviewing the legal aspects of the issue and would take appropriate decisions at the appropriate time.

New Cyber Law Under Preparation

Replying to another question, the law minister said the government was working on a modern and balanced cyber law that would protect constitutional freedom of expression while effectively addressing cybercrimes, online defamation, misinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.

He stressed that the government was not in a hurry to enact the legislation and would finalize it only after thorough consultations with stakeholders.

“The government does not intend to suppress people’s voices or restrict freedom of expression. At the same time, it is committed to ensuring an effective legal framework to protect citizens’ rights and reputations,” he said.

On Trying the Awami League as a Political Party

Asked whether the Awami League could be prosecuted as a political party, the minister replied briefly:

“Time will answer that question.”