Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Bangladesh’s Home Minister, told Arab News that the government has taken a very hard line against drug dealers In May the government launched a nationwide operation against drug dealers DHAKA: Bangladesh has finalized a draft for a new drugs law, including the ultimate sanction of the death penalty, officials in Dhaka confirmed on Thursday. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Bangladesh’s Home Minister, told Arab News that the government has taken a very hard line against drug dealers. “In the drafted law, we propose the death penalty as the maximum punishment.” However, the minister added that the government will establish separate tribunals to insure fair trials. “The new draft law proposes separate courts or tribunals for drug-related crimes.” In May the government launched a nationwide operation against drug dealers, which has claimed 160 lives so far this year. Police claims that most of the victims were killed in cross fire or gun fights between different drug dealers. Civil society representatives expressed mixed reactions to the imposition of the death sentence in the new draft law. Noor Khan, a renowned human rights activist, said: “I am against death sentences, it is simply hinders the scope of rectification of the accused person.” Noor added that she believes that the existing drugs laws are sufficient but that there is a problem with a “vacuum” in the judicial process. Former Inspector General of Police, Enamul Haque, says that suspects should be treated “equally” in the eye of law. “The idea of setting up the special tribunal is a good, but suspects should have the opportunity to defend themselves.” Dr. Asif Nazrul, Professor of law at the University of Dhaka, said that imposition of the death sentence would not eradicate the drug problem, which is very deeply rooted in the society. An integrated approach was needed to tackle the issue, he added. “Here the judiciary process of narcotics cases should be handled in a very subtle way. (Imposing the) death sentence has increased the responsibility of the authority to ensure justice,” he said.