Bar fetters be used only for top terrors, dangerous criminals: HC

DE Online Desk
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned not to use bar betters for all accused except top terrorists, militants and dangerous criminals.
Moreover, the court ordered the authorities concerned to abide by the Home Ministry’s circular strictly in this regard .
The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after hearing a petition seeking an end to the prevalent use of bar fetters.
Barrister Kayser Kamal accompanied by advocate Maksud Ullah stood for the petitioners in the court while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy and Assistant Attorney General Selim Azad represented the state.
According to the ministry’s circular, the bar fetters can be used only for bringing top terrorists, militants and dangerous criminals to and from the courts and elsewhere.
The HC also issued a rule regarding the legality of bringing a Chhatra Dal leader to his father’s Janaza in bar betters and handcuffs.
On January 16 this year, the petition was submitted seeking an end to the misuse of bar fetters and handcuffs in 64 jails of the country. On January 29 an initial hearing was held in this regard.
On January 13, media reports said the Chhatra Dal leader attends father’s Janaza in bar fatters’. The reports also said that the accused was on parole. He is a joint convenor of Patuakhali’s Mirzaganj upazila unit of BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal.