Staff Correspondent:

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Prof Dr. Asif Nazrul on Thursday called upon the critics to know “a little before condemning someone”.

In a facebook post titled “Condemnation” on his verified Facebook page, he said, “Those who condemn and slander may find some joy in it. But it can cause such pain to someone else that you yourself would never want to bear.”

Noting that some people in society have a tendency to condemn and criticize anything, he cited the example of criticism due to false news regarding the definition of freedom fighters a few days ago.

He said a few days ago, a storm of criticism swept over the wrong news about the definition of freedom fighters.

“My family members were one of the victims of this storm. One or two people started criticizing them, how did I make this law! They said: The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs did it! But the critics are relentless! No, the name of the Ministry of Law is written in the law,” he wrote.

“I know that there are many such educated people in society. I politely tell them that no matter what ordinance any other ministry makes, the Ministry of Law has to issue it. This is the rule according to our Rules of Business. This is the case in almost all countries of the world,” he said.

“The law (ordinance) that was made on the NBR in Bangladesh was made by the Ministry of Finance. After being approved by the Advisory Council, the Ministry of Law had to issue it. The law on the discipline of government employees was also made by the Ministry of Public Administration. But the Law Ministry had to issue it,” said Asif Nazrul.

All the laws that have been passed in the form of ordinances in the past have been issued by the Law Ministry, he said adding that all the ordinances that will be issued in the future will also have to be issued by the same Ministry.

For this reason, the name of the Law Ministry will be on the first page of the Gazette, he said. But that does not mean that the Law Ministry has made the laws or that it is the administrative ministry of the laws, he added.

The adviser said the Law Ministry has made laws on its own initiative only on matters within the purview of this ministry.

For example, the Civil Procedure Code Amendment Act or the law regarding the appointment of judges in the High Court has been made by the Law Ministry, he said adding but the Law Ministry does not have any power to make laws on matters within the purview of any other ministry. “It only has the responsibility to issue them. This is just a formality,” he said.

“Law is still a somewhat complicated matter. But some people in society have a tendency to condemn me even for simple, easy-to-understand matters. The question is, if I am criticized for any work of the government, then why am I not also praised for any good work?” he said.

“If the responsibility for how the former president went abroad is given to me instead of the Home Ministry, then I should also give the praise for the fact that prices are stable instead of the Commerce Ministry. But neither of these is right,” said Asif Nazrul.

“I should be criticized or praised for my work, and others for the work of others. The overall responsibility for any work lies with our entire government. But if a specific advisor is blamed, it should be done only for matters related to his ministry,” he said.

“Those who criticize and slander may find some joy in it. But it can cause such pain to someone else that you yourself would never want to bear. It is good to remember this,” he said.

“I know that there are people in society who say, ‘There is no dearth of happiness except by making others look bad’. I request those who are not like that, to know a little before criticizing anyone,” he said.