Symposium on budgetary allocation

Law and Justice' plays an imperative role in economy. Likewise, development is often equated with economic factors only. However, law and justice contribute greatly to influence the performance of these economic factors and thereby to ensure social and economic justice in any society.

Since development of a country contributes towards an effective system of law and justice and as such, there exists in independent relationship between 'law and justice' and development, it is vital to see if this Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is losing its comparative importance within the Public Order and Safety category of the Government.

To give appropriate insight to this matter, two papers have been presented in a symposium organised by Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) on Saturday, May 14th. The subject of this symposium was “Budgetary Allocation for Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs”, where the speakers were Dr. Tureen Afroz, Prosecutor at International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh and Professor of the Department of Law at East West University and Mr. Md Mustakimur Rahman, Lecturer at Department of Law at the Notre Dame University, Bangladesh. The event was hosted by Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Honorary Director of BILIA and chaired by Barrister M. Amirul Islam, Chairman of BILIA. Mr. Anisul Huq, MP, Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, was the Chief Guest at the symposium.

Dr. Afroz's paper explores the extent and trends of annual budgetary allocation by the government of Bangladesh to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs and bases its arguments on the available financial data for the last fifteen years i.e. from 2001-02 FY to 2014-15 FY. She has shown that the total budget allocated for the Ministry in nominal terms has followed an increasing trend; however, a strong case can be made for better and more efficient use of resources, which in turn, can flow from a more comprehensive planning process.

Mr. Mustakimur Rahman stressed on the fact the mission of the Ministry is to create an enabling environment for ensuring equitable justice for the people through institutional and structural development of the judiciary, on the other hand, the mission of the Ministry of Fisheries is to meet the people's demand for animal protein by enhancing production and productivity of fisheries and livestock sector.

Barrister M. Amirul Islam, Chairman of BILIA, turned the spotlight on identifying the areas of expenditure for the Ministry for attracting more budgets from the government. He further stressed on developing the capability of lawyers, judges and whole judiciary for having a competent judiciary. Mr. Anisul Huq, MP, Hon'ble Minister opined that the government of Bangladesh is vigilant enough to ensure the independence of judiciary, which is one of the prerequisites for establishing rule of law.

The Minister thereafter presented the success story of the current government in implementing the 12-point directives the Supreme Court in famous Mazdar Hossain case, to ensure separation of judiciary from the executive.

In the end, it was unanimously agreed that the Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs shall focus on ensuring increased and efficient development works in Bangladesh.

The event covered by Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed; Research Assistant (Law), BILIA.