Dhaka: The ministerial committee has recommended the withdrawal of 4,615 cases identifying those to be filled for harassment on political grounds. "The ministry-level committee formed for scrutinizing political harassment cases so far held six meetings and recommended withdrawing 4,615 politically motivated cases which were filed for harassment," Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry spokesperson Dr. Md Rezaul Karim told BSS.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government on September 22 formed two separate committees at the ministry and district levels aimed at withdrawing politically motivated cases filed for harassment. The authorities have asked all concerned to submit applications with FIRs and charge sheets if required by December 31, 2024.
The six-member ministry-level committee is headed by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser, while the four-member district-level committee is led by the concerned district magistrate. Members of the ministry-level committee include senior officials from the home ministry's public security division and representatives from the law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry.
The district-level committees comprise the superintendent of police (or a deputy commissioner for metropolitan areas), public prosecutors (or metropolitan magistrates for metropolitan cases), and an additional district magistrate serving as the member secretary.
The ministry-level committee is tasked with preparing a list of cases appropriate for withdrawal after reviewing recommendations from the district-level committees. Additionally, the committee will compile a list of politically motivated cases filed under The Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, as these cases require the commission's written orders for withdrawal, according to section 10 (4) of The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958. The government will decide the next course of action based on this assessment.