DHAKA: The High Court on Monday (July 23) ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to stop recording cases using the repealed section 16(2) of the Special Powers Act, 1974.

An HC bench of Justice Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order during the hearing of three bail petitions filed by separate accused persons in cases filed with different police stations of the country under the abolished section of that Act.

Later deputy attorney general Farhad Ahmed said despite the abolition of Section 16(2) of the SPA, cases were being recorded under it. While hearing bail petitions of such cases, the court ordered the IGP not to use the section anymore while recoding cases.

Assistant attorney general Yusuf Mahmud said section 16(1) of the Special Powers Act, 1974 prohibited any prejudicial act and under section 16(2), if anyone found guilty of prejudicial acts, would be sentenced to a maximum of five years in jail or fined or be punished with both.

BDST: 1905 HRS, JULY 23, 2018
AP/SMS