PM's initiative behind breakthrough in long-stalled Tonu murder case: Law minister

Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today (2 May) said that the much-discussed Tonu murder case is finally beginning to move forward after remaining stalled for 10 years, due to the initiative of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

"Prime Minister sent me a message over phone on the Eid day to inquire about the progress of the investigation of the case. Accordingly, he later provided with the detailed information. The case has started to move forward after a long gap of 10 years due to his initiative. One accused has already been arrested," the minister said.

He made these remarks while responding to journalists' questions after attending as the chief guest at a consultative meeting held at BRAC Center in Dhaka's Mohakhali. The meeting was organized by BRAC's Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) programme.

The minister added that all those involved in the case will gradually be brought under the law. Since the prime minister has special interest in the matter, detailed discussions were held with him on the first day he came to office after Eid. He was informed about the matter in detail.

"The matter is currently considered under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The law ministry's efforts in this regard will continue," Asaduzzaman further said.

In response to another question from journalists, the minister said that many tasks which were not completed in the last 10 years are now being taken up for quick implementation under the directives of the prime minister and these will be completed within one to two months.

The meeting was organized to publish the findings of a joint research by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and BRAC titled "Procedural Barriers in Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and Identification of Effective Ways to Address Those Barriers."

Presided over by BRAC executive director Asif Saleh, the program was also attended by Law and Justice Division secretary Liaquet Ali Molla, director general of the Directorate of Legal Aid, Md Monjurul Hossain, associate director of BRAC's SELP and Gender Justice and Diversity Programmes Shashwati Biplob, among others.

Former District and Sessions Judge Umme Kulsum presented the research findings as a consultant.

Officials from the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission and Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI), Supreme Court lawyers, journalists and BRAC officials and employees were also present at the event.