Human rights activists and opposition leaders in Bangladesh have strongly condemned the government for approving a proposed new security law which they say could be used to jail members of the opposition.

The new security bill which has been dubbed the "Black Law" of Bangladesh by human rights activists would give the authorities sweeping powers of arrest and detention.

It provides for special tribunals to be set up to bring those the government calls terrorists and enemies of the state to justice more quickly.

Human rights activists fear that could mean summary trials for opposition members.

The current government, elected after promising to improve law and order, has been criticised for presiding over what many Bangladeshis say is increasing lawlessness.

Lawlessness

Mass arrests of gangsters and members of outlawed political groups last year, seem to have largely failed to convince the public that the government's action is effective.

Tens of thousands of bandits and political militants surrendered - but most were soon released.

Although security has improved in some areas, local residents say that those who surrendered were not the ringleaders and they say violent crime is again increasing.

Freedom fears

With a general election due next year, the government is now determined to improve its image.

The biggest opposition group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), says the public security bill will undermine personal and political freedom.

Opposition leaders say their supporters are routinely arrested and jailed on what they allege are trumped up charges and that the proposed new legislation would make things worse.

However, the government has pointed out that the BNP itself introduced similar laws eight years ago when it was in power and the government says it is open to opposition suggestions to improve the bill.