US Ambassador in Dhaka has lauded the new law permitting virtual court hearings in Bangladesh during the pandemic.
“While the law has so far only been applied to bail hearings, even that limited application is having a significant and positive effect, permitting tens of thousands of eligible people, including several hundred juveniles, to post bail rather than remain in jail until the courts reopen,” he said.
The embassy said the ambassador was making remarks at a US Embassy’s Department of Justice - Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (DOJ-OPDAT) and its Philippine Department of Justice hosted virtual regional counterterrorism conference on June 23.
More than 70 prosecutors, investigators, and judges from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the United States met virtually to share expertise and best practices for prosecuting terrorism cases.
Apart from Miller, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Philippine Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento, US Embassy in Malaysia Chargé d'Affaires Dean Thompson, and US Embassy Jakarta Chargé d'Affaires Heather Variava delivered remarks at the workshop.
Miller called upon the countries to be united to fight against the terrorists and said the hearings in the virtual court in the counterterrorism context are also “important because when a suspect, otherwise eligible for bail, is kept in jail for an extended period of time, there is an increased chance of radicalization, a challenge we face in all countries.”
“Something as basic as the efficient processing of bail hearings can be an important step in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that this law would be extended to cover other hearings as well.
“The ability to present witness testimony virtually will aid in effectively prosecuting terrorist cases by making it easier for witnesses who feel threatened or have difficulty traveling to court.
“We know terrorists work across borders. So must we,” he said.
He also reminded all the fourth anniversary of the Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack that took place in Dhaka.
On July 1, 2016, terrorists killed 22 hostages from five countries and two police officers.
Judge Majibur Rahman, the Anti-Terrorism Tribunal Judge who presided over the Holey Bakery trial, was also present at the workshop.
The ambassador appreciated the judge and said he presided over the trial “at great personal risk.”
“I know many of you have put yourself in harms way to prosecute terrorists to protect your fellow citizens,” he said, adding that this workshop on digital forensic evidence is one way we can work together to do that.
“The workshop today allows participating countries to have collaborative discussions and work in concert to find solutions to common problems to move forward as a region in fighting terrorism,” he said.
“Terrorists do not respect the boundaries of nations when they commit their horrific crimes. Similarly, we who fight terrorism must work together across the boundaries of those nations, to make sure we have the most up-to-date information and practices in our struggle against terrorism. When we share and learn from each other on how to more effectively prosecute terrorism, our individual efforts get stronger, and serve to make the region and the world safer.”
The workshop focused on the use of digital forensics in counterterrorism cases.
US Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Lab Director described how computer and cell phone evidence can be gathered and used to develop a terrorism case before acts of violence are committed, and explained that when investigators and prosecutors use digital evidence obtained through legal processes, they can often strengthen and prove a case that otherwise would have been impossible to develop.
The CCIPS Lab Director and experts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines exchanged views on the use of digital evidence in their respective countries and how to develop it as a tool against terrorism.
