NN Online:
A case was filed on November 29, 2022, against 15 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations in Manikganj, accusing them of sabotage and inciting public panic. That same night, Masud Parvez, joint convener of the district Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, and Jasim Uddin alias Akash, a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist, were arrested. The charges included allegations of detonating crude bombs.
Manikganj District BNP President Afroza Khan Rita labeled the case a “ghost” and “harassment” tactic. She claimed it was one of many filed to hinder a BNP rally scheduled in Dhaka for December 10, 2022, noting that many such cases were lodged in absentia followed by mass arrests of opposition activists.
SA Jinnah Kabir, former general secretary of Manikganj District BNP and current member of the convening committee, said that 33 “false and harassing” cases had been filed against him during the previous Awami League administration. According to him, thousands of BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists across the country were forced to flee their homes due to politically motivated legal actions.
In response, the current interim government has initiated steps to withdraw such cases filed from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024. A senior official from the Law-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that a decision has been made to drop 10,506 cases identified as politically motivated.
The Home Ministry has already instructed District Magistrates to assess specific cases and involve District Public Prosecutors for legal opinions. The government will proceed under Section 494 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, which allows for withdrawal of cases at the government’s discretion.
To ensure fair implementation, two committees—district-level and ministerial-level—have been formed. The district committee is chaired by the District Magistrate and includes the Additional District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police (or Deputy Commissioner for metro areas), and Public Prosecutor.
If a case is deemed politically driven or harassing, the district committee can recommend withdrawal. Such recommendations, along with case details including statements and charge sheets, must be submitted to the Home Ministry within 45 working days of receiving an application. Applications may also be submitted individually or through senior officials of the Home and Law Ministries.
Once recommendations are reviewed, the Law Adviser-led ministerial committee finalizes a resolution. After legal vetting by the Ministry of Law, the final withdrawal order is sent to the concerned District Magistrate.
A government notification has clarified the responsibilities of the district committees and outlined procedures. However, cases filed under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, require explicit approval from the ACC under Section 10(4) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1954, before withdrawal. These will be separately reviewed.
The ministerial-level committee is chaired by Dr. Asif Nazrul, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser, with the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Law-1 Branch acting as member secretary. Other members include top officials from the Public Security Division and the Law Ministry.
Ministry sources confirmed that any victim of politically motivated cases within the stated timeframe is eligible to apply, provided they submit certified case documents, including charge sheets where applicable.
Faisal Hasan, Public Relations Officer (Director) of the Home Ministry, told BSS that this joint initiative by the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Law aims to relieve innocent people and political activists of prolonged and unjust legal harassment.
