Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul announced on Tuesday that the government has prepared a draft amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898 to ensure a rights-based legal process and stronger safeguards during arrests and interrogations.
Addressing the closing session of the two-day ‘Commonwealth Charter Youth Workshop Bangladesh-2025’ in the capital, he said the draft would soon be approved. The workshop was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Nazrul noted that his ministry is leading a broad reform agenda aligned with the core values of the Commonwealth Charter. “We’ve also amended the Code of Civil Procedure to make justice faster, affordable, and accessible,” he said.
Highlighting digitalisation as a priority, he added that the judiciary is being digitised to enhance transparency and efficiency. “We aim to make significant progress on this front over the next six months,” he said.
The adviser also referenced recent legal updates addressing gender-based violence and the introduction of digital marriage and divorce registration to ensure gender equality.
Commenting on the controversial cybersecurity law, he noted that the government had held extensive consultations and completed 23 drafts before finalising the revised ordinance. “Even Amnesty International acknowledged that this version is not a very bad law,” he remarked.
He emphasised that these reforms reflect the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, good governance, judicial independence, and human dignity — all key principles of the Commonwealth Charter.
Young people from diverse sectors — including civil society, minority communities, academia, and the media — attended the workshop, engaging with the Commonwealth Charter’s core values, such as democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression.
Addressing the event, Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Prof. Luis Franceschi urged youth to put these ideals into practice. “The future of Bangladesh depends on the choices you make today. Don’t give up. Stand up, speak up, and lead forward,” he said.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who opened the workshop on Monday, had called the Commonwealth Charter a ‘moral compass’ guiding the lives of 2.7 billion people across 56 countries.
Prof. Franceschi is in Dhaka leading a Commonwealth delegation to meet with Bangladesh’s interim government. Adopted in 2013, the Commonwealth Charter outlines shared political, social, economic, and environmental principles agreed by all member nations.