BANGLADESH

An amendment to the anti-terrorism law was tabled in Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) on Tuesday with death sentence topping punitive measures.

Anyone funding terrorism or militant activities will get up to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines.

The bill placed by home minister Shahara Khatun was forwarded for scrutiny to the parliamentary standing committee on her ministry, which has been told submit a report within three days.

The cabinet gave the go-ahead to the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2011 on Dec 26 last year. However, without the parliament in session, the bill was passed as an ordinance. The ordinance was tabled on Tuesday to make it a law.

An ordinance has to be tabled for approval at the parliamentary session following its passing as it will automatically lose validity within 30 days of the next session.