Death penalty abolition remains complex issue: Minister

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Wednesday said the question of abolishing the death penalty remains a complex issue in Bangladesh’s prevailing social context, despite many countries having already outlawed capital punishment.

He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar and publication ceremony of a research report titled “Legal Representation in Death Penalty Cases in Bangladesh: An Empirical and Conceptual Analysis” at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of Dhaka University, organised by the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS).

The minister emphasised that the rule of law, due process and the right to legal representation must be ensured in all cases, including the most serious offences.

“To ensure justice, the rule of law, due process of law and the right of the accused to legal representation must be ensured even in the most heinous crimes,” he said, adding that governance should be guided by justice, logic and legal principles rather than public sentiment.

Referring to recent incidents of child rape and murder, Asaduzzaman said society’s demand for justice in such cases is understandable, but stressed that every accused person is entitled to a fair trial regardless of the allegations.