Bangladesh Supreme Court has upheld the High Court verdict to stop the police force from making arbitrary arrests on suspicion and torturing those arrested on remand. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the apex court yesterday dismissed a government appeal challenging the High Court verdict which was passed in April 2003.
Curtailing the century-old wide discretionary police powers concerning arrest, detention in custody and remand, the High Court had asked the government to amend some provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure which it said were contradictory to the Constitution.
The verdict has won praise from legal experts and human rights activists. Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust eminent lawyer Dr. Kamal Hossain said the landmark judgement will ensure protection of fundamental rights of citizens in relation to arrest, detention and interrogation in custody and remand.
Attorney General Mahbhubey Alam said the government would take steps to comply with the Supreme Court verdict.