Dhaka: The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs are set to publish a comprehensive list of politically motivated cases recommended for withdrawal. This initiative, slated to commence in the next few days, will see the list made available on the ministries' respective websites. The decision emerged from the 12th meeting of a ministry-level committee, as confirmed by Dr Md Rezaul Karim, spokesperson for the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting, presided over by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, approved the withdrawal of an additional 517 cases. Over the past four months, the committee has proposed the withdrawal of a total of 8,832 cases, which were reportedly filed for harassment purposes. On average, each case involved at least 50 accused individuals, implicating nearly five lakh leaders and activists from various political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat.
Individuals seeking the withdrawal of their cases are advised to submit their pleas at the solicitor wing of the law ministry, located on the Bangladesh Supreme Court premises, or via email at solicitor.lawjusticediv.gov.bd. In instances where obtaining certified copies of the first information report (FIR) or formal charge proves challenging, applicants may submit certified photocopies instead.
In a move initiated on September 22, 2024, the government established two committees-one at the ministry level and another at the district level-to facilitate the withdrawal of politically motivated cases. The committees have been tasked with reviewing applications, which must be submitted with FIRs and charge sheets by December 31, 2024. The ministry-level committee, led by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser, comprises senior officials from the home ministry and the law ministry, while district-level committees are headed by concerned district magistrates.
The ministry-level committee is responsible for compiling a list of cases deemed suitable for withdrawal, based on district-level recommendations. Additionally, the committee will create a separate list of cases filed under The Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, which cannot be withdrawn without the commission's written consent as stipulated by section 10 (4) of The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958. The government will determine subsequent actions in relation to these cases.