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Saturday | October 31, 2026 | Dhaka

Public feedback invited on speedy trial Act changes

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:02 AM, 31 October 2026

The government has published the draft Speedy Trial Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2026, for public consultation, proposing changes to expedite trials of serious crimes, including extortion, robbery and dacoity.

The proposed amendments also seek to make digital evidence admissible in trials under the law, with the stated aim of strengthening crime prevention and public security.

According to official sources, delays in resolving cases involving extortion, dacoity, robbery, mugging and activities that disrupt law and order hamper crime prevention efforts and pose significant threats to public safety.

To ensure faster justice and more effective crime suppression, the government initiated the modernisation of the existing Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002). The draft bill was published under Instruction No. 228 of the Secretariat Instructions 2024 and Rule 31A of the Rules of Business.

One of the key proposals concerns the admissibility of digital evidence. Under the proposed amendment to Section 16, online or digital conversations, communications, still photographs and video footage involving the accused or related to the crime would be legally admissible in trials under the Act.

The draft also proposes amending Section 6 to replace earlier references to narcotics offences with specific provisions covering extortion, robbery and dacoity.

The proposed coverage includes extortion offences under Sections 384, 385, 386, 387, 388 and 389 of the Penal Code, and robbery and dacoity offences under Sections 392 to 402.
Offences specified under Section 2(b) of the Law and Order Disrupting Crimes (Speedy Trial) Act, 2002, would also be included.

Another proposed change concerns the definition of special courts under Section 3(e). The amended provision would include Special Tribunals under the Special Powers Act, 1974; Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and Child Violence Prevention Tribunals under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000; Acid Crime Control Tribunals under the Acid Crime Control Act, 2002; and any other special court or tribunal established by law.