Trial in Tonu killing case as per existing law: PM

The government will hold the trial in Tonu killing case according to the country’s existing law, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a cabinet meeting today.

“The premier said this while the cabinet members discussed Tonu murder and the statement of the chief justice regarding the sensational murder,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star.

“There are many cases which were dealt under the existing law. So, why the same is not possible in this case,” the law minister said quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who asked the law secretary during the cabinet meeting.

READ MORE: Trials stumble on outdated laws

“Later, I informed the prime minister that the case is covered by both the Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act and the Penal Code,” the law minister told the daily.

The chief justice on Saturday said that the crime (Tonu murder) that happened in Comilla was committed in a “scientific, modern way”. This crime cannot be investigated and tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which was written in 1898.

He said this while addressing the launching of two books -- “Bangladeshe Ainer Sangskar o Ain Commission” and “Selected Writings on International Law, Constitutional Law and Human Rights”-- by Law Commission member Prof M Shah Alam at Dhaka University's Senate Building.

After a huge protest in Tonu killing incident, the cabinet for the first time discussed the case today.

Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a second year history student of Comilla Victoria College and a member of Victoria College Theatre, was murdered in Comilla Cantonment area on March 20 night.