High Court issues rule on ensuring security for witnesses in criminal cases

The High Court has asked the authorities why they should not be ordered to take effective measures to ensure witnesses’ security in criminal cases.

The court issued a rule on Thursday after hearing a writ petition filed by a witness of a case in Chittagong.
 
The 10 respondents, including the secretaries to law and home ministries, police chief, Chittagong police commissioner, and Kotwali Police Station OC, were asked to answer within four weeks.
 
The court also ordered adequate security for writ petitioner Kamal Kumar Debnath and his family until the hearing ends.
 
Chowdhury Shamsul Arefin, who stood for the petitioner at the hearing, told bdnews24.com that persons accused in a case over the seizure of Yaba had been threatening Kamal since they had been freed on bail.
 
The trial court ordered investigation into Kamal’s allegation when he filed a police complaint over the threats, Arefin said.
 
“The threats increased when police submitted an imaginary investigation report. Now Kamal’s normal life is being seriously hampered,” he added.