1,883 cases filed over killings, enforced disappearances and torture after July uprising, law minister tells parliament
A total of 1,883 cases have been filed in different districts of the country after the July uprising over killings, enforced disappearances and torture committed under the previous fascist government, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has told parliament. Of these, 805 are murder cases and 1,078 have been filed under other sections.
The law minister gave the information on Tuesday afternoon during a written question-and-answer session with reserved women's MP Rokeya Begum in the fourth session of the national parliament. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presided over the session.
The minister said investigations have been completed and charge sheets submitted to court in 293 of the cases, and trial proceedings in those cases are now under way. Of the charge-sheeted cases, 98 are murder cases and 195 are other cases.
On the other hand, final reports have been submitted in 91 cases, even though the incidents were found to be true, because the cases were not filed at the correct police station due to complications over the place of occurrence, and because multiple plaintiffs filed separate cases over the same incident. Investigations are still ongoing in the remaining 1,499 cases.
The law minister said that although the investigation process for this large number of cases is complex and time-consuming, the police department is working to submit reports in the shortest possible time. The highest importance is being given to collecting relevant evidence and following the legal process in every case, so that victims receive fair justice.
He said all public prosecutors concerned have been instructed to take necessary steps for the proper conduct and speedy disposal of these cases, and progress is being reviewed regularly.
On trials at the International Crimes Tribunal, the law minister said a total of 79 cases have so far been filed or registered with the tribunal against those who attacked the student-people's movement in July 2024.
Of these, eight cases have been finally disposed of through the publication of full verdicts, and a total of 73 accused have been sentenced. Among those sentenced, 24 accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, have been given the death penalty, and 49 have been given life imprisonment and other terms of imprisonment.
Of the remaining cases, 26 are currently at the trial stage and 45 are at the investigation stage, the law minister said.
The law minister said the present government is fully committed to delivering justice to the victims and their families who suffered brutal crimes during the previous fascist government.
He said the government is working tirelessly to bring to justice and ensure punishment for everyone who killed, disappeared, tortured or maimed innocent people.
The law minister's statement in parliament comes at a time of widespread public interest in the progress of trials and investigations in the cases filed over the July uprising. Attention will now be on how quickly reports in the 1,499 cases still under investigation reach the courts.
