Dhaka, April 9 (bdnews24.com) – The interim government has altered some provisions of emergency powers rules to allow bails in some cases.

It makes a third amendment to the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007. The latest amendment was designed to clear the trouble dealing with emergency-time cases since March 21 when the right to seek bail was curbed.

The accused in the cases that fall outside Section 14 of the ordinance may seek bail.

The government will decide by April 18 which cases filed in line with emergency rules are bailable and which are not, according to a new provision in the amended rules issued Monday.

The amended law has made it mandatory to seek permission from the government or related agencies to file and investigate cases under Section 14. The cases under Section 14 are nonbailable.

To give permission, the authorities must consider the context of a particular case in light of public importance, according to the rules.

It covers cases under the Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosives Substances Act, Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, Special Powers Act and Narcotics Control Act, the government order said.

Section 14 of the ordinance covers the use of illegal arms and explosives, sabotage, hoarding, adulteration of drugs and foods, currency and stamp forgeries and smuggling.

The ordinance was changed twice—on Feb 13 and March 21—after the emergency came into effect on Jan 25.

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