Proposed Truth Commission will benefit all, says Mainul
Monday, 8 October 2007
Law Adviser Mainul Hosein Sunday said all would be benefited if the proposed Truth Commission is formed, reports UNB/ bdnews24.com.
"Though government is thinking different thing about businessmen, all will be benefited after formation of the proposed Commission," he told reporters after a meeting of National Smuggling Control Committee at the Home Ministry.
Asked whether only businessmen would be benefited from the proposed law, he said if enacted, it would cover every body. "In the interest of country's economic activities, the government is thinking about businessmen in a different way."
Presided over by Mainul Hosein, the meeting was attended, among others, by Law Secretary, Home Secretary, acting IGP, senior officials of Coast Guard, BDR, RAB, Chairmen of different ports, Divisional Commissioners and concerned officials.
The Law Adviser said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been asked to strictly inspect the vehicles plying across the borders which are often used to carry smuggled goods through hidden chambers.
He also said that trawlers were also being used for carrying smuggled goods. He requested the Shipping Ministry to arrange for registration and inspection of trawlers to curb smuggling.
Replying to a question he said there is no crisis of fertiliser. "There is sufficient stock, but there is problem in fertiliser distribution. The government is trying to streamline the distribution process," he said.
The Law Adviser admitted that the number of drug addicts had increased. "Recently the number of drug addicts has increased. Social awareness should be created before the problem takes an alarming shape," he said.
The meeting was told that a total of 67,466 smuggling cases were filed with different police stations across the country from January 2006 to April this year. A total of 1,23,970 complaints were also lodged from April 2006 to July this year.
The government has no plan to grant general amnesty to corruption suspects, the Law Adviser said.
In a meeting with OCAB at the Jatiya Press Club, Mainul said the government was pondering 'reconciliation' but how it could be done was not clear.
"The government was thinking about reconciliation through the proposed Truth Commission," he said.
Asked why the reconciliation process would be applicable to the businessmen alone, the adviser said the law would not mention businessmen in particular.
"But the government will give preference to the businessmen."
Asked whether such reconciliatory steps would be considered for the politicians as well, Mainul said, "It depends on the situation to be created."
"We don't want to establish any controlled democracy. We want to set an example by handing power over to a responsible government elected through fair election."
Election is not far away, he said.
"Though government is thinking different thing about businessmen, all will be benefited after formation of the proposed Commission," he told reporters after a meeting of National Smuggling Control Committee at the Home Ministry.
Asked whether only businessmen would be benefited from the proposed law, he said if enacted, it would cover every body. "In the interest of country's economic activities, the government is thinking about businessmen in a different way."
Presided over by Mainul Hosein, the meeting was attended, among others, by Law Secretary, Home Secretary, acting IGP, senior officials of Coast Guard, BDR, RAB, Chairmen of different ports, Divisional Commissioners and concerned officials.
The Law Adviser said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been asked to strictly inspect the vehicles plying across the borders which are often used to carry smuggled goods through hidden chambers.
He also said that trawlers were also being used for carrying smuggled goods. He requested the Shipping Ministry to arrange for registration and inspection of trawlers to curb smuggling.
Replying to a question he said there is no crisis of fertiliser. "There is sufficient stock, but there is problem in fertiliser distribution. The government is trying to streamline the distribution process," he said.
The Law Adviser admitted that the number of drug addicts had increased. "Recently the number of drug addicts has increased. Social awareness should be created before the problem takes an alarming shape," he said.
The meeting was told that a total of 67,466 smuggling cases were filed with different police stations across the country from January 2006 to April this year. A total of 1,23,970 complaints were also lodged from April 2006 to July this year.
The government has no plan to grant general amnesty to corruption suspects, the Law Adviser said.
In a meeting with OCAB at the Jatiya Press Club, Mainul said the government was pondering 'reconciliation' but how it could be done was not clear.
"The government was thinking about reconciliation through the proposed Truth Commission," he said.
Asked why the reconciliation process would be applicable to the businessmen alone, the adviser said the law would not mention businessmen in particular.
"But the government will give preference to the businessmen."
Asked whether such reconciliatory steps would be considered for the politicians as well, Mainul said, "It depends on the situation to be created."
"We don't want to establish any controlled democracy. We want to set an example by handing power over to a responsible government elected through fair election."
Election is not far away, he said.