BANGLADESH: DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM

February 16, 2012: In Bangladesh, the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was passed in the Jatiya Sangsad, keeping a provision for capital punishment (death sentence) as the maximum punishment.
The House passed the bill by voice vote with Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali in the chair.
Home Minister Shahara Khatun proposed the bill titled 'Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2012 in the parliament for passage.
Earlier, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Home Ministry Maj Gen (retd) Abdus Salam placed the scrutinised report on the bill.
The home minister said the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill was brought to resist various criminal activities and to safeguard the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 has been amended to stop use of Bangladeshi land for conducting any terrorist activities inside the country or other countries, all types of illegal arms, carrying explosives and creating panic among the people through any terrorist activity. (Sources: thedailystar.net, 16/02/2012)