The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in her latest report did not express any particular concern over the human rights situation in Bangladesh and related issues, Law Minister Anisul Haque claimed today. The minister said this to journalists after attending a programme at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BISS) at the capital's Eskaton. The UN rights chief was invited by the minister in March this year when they met at Geneva after she expressed her interest to visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, he said. Following the invitation, she visited Bangladesh and its Rohingya camps this month. During her visit Bechelet met with different human rights organisation and representatives of civil society. Also read: Act now on climate front, listen to countries like Bangladesh: Bachelet “She made a statement after her visit, during which she met all kinds of representatives of different organisations specialising in different aspects of human rights, but nothing negative came out in her statement - which due to all her meetings must be taken as a deeply rooted and considered statement,” said Anisul Haque. The law minister seems to think that since the ex-Chilean president is leaving her post at the end of August after 4 years, she can no longer exercise any authority. But her findings will of course be retained as part of her office and passed on to her successor. Also read: Don’t abandon Rohingyas, scale up supports: Bachelet urges int’l community

Law Minister Anisul Haque has tested positive for Covid-19, says an official of the ministry on Saturday. He tested positive on Thursday and has been taking treatment at home, the official said. The law minister is now doing fine and his body temperature remains normal with light coughing.

The Law Ministry on Monday forwarded its opinion to the Home Ministry on an application seeking permission to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment. Law Minister Anisul Haque told reporters at the Secretariat that he sent the legal opinion on the application of the BNP chief’s family to the Home Ministry. Declining to elaborate, he said, “We’ve given our opinion on the application of Khaleda Zia’s brother, and sent it to the Home Ministry.” Also read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: HC likely to hear petition Wednesday The minister said the Home Ministry will now send the file to the Prime Minister's Office for approval. “I can’t disclose it to you (journalists) now as I have to keep it secret until the Prime Minister sees it,” he said. He said the decision on the plea will be known once the Prime Minister clears it. CrPC Replying to a question, the Law Minister said there is no scope to reconsider the ‘’past and closed transactions’’ under the six-sub sections of 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC). Anisul said the explanation he gave earlier on the legal barrier to reconsider an application that was disposed of earlier under section 401 is lawful. “I think my explanation was right.” On December 5, the Law Minister said the government is assessing whether there is any legal option to allow BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “As there’re many applications, including from lawyers, I think it’s appropriate to come to a well-thought-out decision after examining all aspects and whether there is any scope to do something in any way,” he added. Also read: Law will move on its own pace, Anisul says on Khaleda's treatment abroad Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. The BNP chief’s medical board members on November 28 said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 seeking permission to take her abroad for treatment. Though the government earlier twice turned down such applications, it is taking time to dispose of the fresh plea of the BNP chief’s family. On November 28, the Law Minister told parliament that Khaleda is now free as she is not in government custody. He also said as Khaleda was temporarily released under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure based on some conditions, including not leaving the country, there is no provision in the law to allow her to go abroad now until she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail. BNP leaders and pro-BNP lawyers, however, have long been arguing that the government has the unlimited authority to take any decision in this regard under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedures. The party has also been observing various programmes since November 25 demanding that the BNP chief be allowed to go abroad as there is no advanced cnetre in Bangladesh to treat her liver cirrhosis problem.

The Election Commission will be constituted through a search committee as it is not possible to form it through enacting a law right now, said law Minister Anisul Haque on Thursday. “I’m not saying we won’t enact a law for forming the Election Commission as stated in the constitution. But it won’t be possible right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the tenure of the current EC will expire in February next,” he said. The minister said this while responding to questions from journalists at a programme held at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the city. The minister said it has already been cleared by the Prime Minister recently that the Election Commission will be formed through a search committee. “The President had sought opinion from all political parties when the search committee was formed. The gazette on the search committee was published when all agreed on it. The search committee gazette is not a law but close to a law as it was formed with a consensus and as per the President’s decision,” he said. Read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP

The government will recruit new local level officials to make NID services more efficient and dynamic, Law Minister Anisul Haque said in parliament on Monday. Anisul, who is in charge of the Election Commission Secretariat on parliamentary affairs, said the government has created posts of thana and upazila level assistant election officer and a data entry operator. Also read: Govt. must sit with EC to discuss transferring NID services from it, says CEC The NID service will be more dynamic once the recruitment process for these two posts is completed, he said. The minister was replying to a tabled question from Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary. The law minister said a total of 7,32,363 people in the country have so far registered to get online National Identity Card services. He said that NID services have been decentralized for speedy disposal of applications. Central and field level officials have been given the power to dispose of applications according to the type of application, he added. Also read: NID services to be provided from Home Ministry: Minister Replying to a question of AKM Rahmatullah from Dhaka-11, LGRD Minister Tajul Islam said arsenic screening is being conducted in 3,200 unions in 335 upazilas of 54 districts. Responding to a question from MP Didarul Alam, Minister for Liberation War Affairs Akam Mozammel Haque who is in charge of the Prime Minister's Office on parliamentary affairs, said the government has allotted 1,832.27 acres of land of Sahebganj Sugar Mill in Rangpur Sugar Mills to set up Rangpur EPZ. He also said the government has also planned to set up EPZ at Prembagh Union's Chengutia under Avoynagar Upazila in Jashore. Also read: CEC wants NID services to stay under EC Besides, another EPZ will be set up at Sadar Upazila in Patuakhali. Construction of these EPZs will begin in the next financial year (2021-22) and will be completed in phases by 2024. 

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said government will take strict measures against anyone who creates disorder and tries to harm public property and people’s lives. After receiving the second shot of Covid-19 vaccine at city's Armed Forces Medical College Hospital, the Law Minister said this while answering the media. Also read: Government committed to incorporating ADR into existing laws: Anisul Huq Anisul Huq warned by saying, ‘Bangladesh has effective law to resist declaration of Jihad or any communal activity against the nation.’ Regarding the second dose of Coronavirus vaccine the minister said taking the second shot will reduce the intensity of the disease. Also read: Virtual court a new chapter in law: Anisul Anisul Huq urged everyone to take the second shot by saying ‘Government has the capacity to vaccinate everyone.’

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase has approved 12 procurement proposals including the import of rice, fertiliser and petroleum.

Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved a total eight procurement proposals including import of petroleum fuels and fertilizer.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Monday said the Election Commission (EC) must remain vigilant so that Rohingyas or citizens of other countries cannot become voters of Bangladesh illegally.