HC seeks rule on public database of convicts

The High Court has issued a rule seeking an explanation as to why a legal and effective open digital database of people convicted of criminal offences should not be created and linked to their national identity cards (NIDs).

A bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the rule on Sunday following a public interest petition filed by Barrister Fahmida Akhter, who represented herself in court.

The court has asked the home secretary, law secretary, information and technology secretary, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman, posts and telecommunications secretary and other respondents to respond to the rule within four weeks.

The proposed database would contain information on people convicted of criminal offences under laws including the Penal Code 1860, the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018 and the Women and Children’s Repression Prevention Act 2000, according to the petition.

It seeks to establish a digital system by linking the records of convicted persons with their NIDs.

The petition raised concerns over citizens’ security and their constitutional rights to life, personal liberty and protection under the law.

Fahmida said the proposed system could help address the country’s rising crime rate by making records of convicted persons publicly accessible.

“No one in the world is born a criminal. Just as good people are created by their social situations, system and context, many criminals are also created in the same way,” she told bdnews24.com.
She argued that public access to conviction records could act as a deterrent by making people conscious of the potential consequences of committing crimes.

“Since the records of convicted defendants will be publicly available, this information will no longer be confidential. Due to this, criminals will reconsider for fear of social criticism and isolation from society, and the number of crimes will also decrease,” she said.