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BSS-58
BANGLADESH-COMMONWEALTH-ANISUL
Bangladesh seeks free vaccine for LDCs, LLDCs, small states: Anisul
DHAKA, Feb 18, 2021 (BSS) – Law Minister Anisul Huq today said Bangladesh urges developed countries in the Commonwealth to come forward to meet vaccine needs for free of LDCs, LLDCs, small states, island developing states, and countries with special needs.
“No one is safe until everyone is vaccinated,” he told a virtual meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers.
He said that Bangladesh rolled out the Oxford vaccine that the government procured commercially, but is providing completely free of cost to the citizens since February 7.
The law minister said there remain no legal barriers to equitable access to medicines and Covid-vaccines by any Bangladeshi citizen while the right to health is guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh.
‘Communicable Diseases (Prevention, Control and Eradication) Act, 2018’ successfully protects the rights of citizens to access medicines and equipments without prejudice, he added.
He said Bangladesh has done quite brilliantly in saving lives and livelihoods from the deadly Covid pandemic with prudent policy decisions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“Our infections and fatality rates remain one of the lowest in South Asia,” he added. The law minister said Bangladesh has been able to successfully ensure its citizens their Constitutional rights to Justice amidst covid, leveraging Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Digital Bangladesh smart, adaptive and innovative methods.
He said the government promulgated the ‘Use of Information Technology by the Courts Ordinance, 2020’ followed by the ‘Use of ICT by the Courts Act, 2020’ that allowed the courts and tribunals to conduct judicial proceedings virtually removing all hindrances ensuring equal access to justice for all.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh issued ‘Special Practice Directions’ for the effective adjudication of civil and criminal cases through virtual courts and to dispose bail and remand petitions through video conferencing by the virtual attendance of suspects in jails, he said.
Anisul informed that Appellate Division disposed more than 7,000 cases virtually in less than 5-months in 2020, while the subordinate courts disposing 147,339 bail petitions in just 3-months, all virtually.
“In fact, the virtual court system during pandemic has significantly reduced over-crowding in our prisons,” he said.
Besides, he said, the law ministry delivered more than 200,000 free legal aid services to the poor and helpless justice seekers through dedicated national helpline and virtual methods.
BSS/TA/MRU/2055hrs