The government has withdrawn 24,013 cases filed for political reasons or to harass individuals, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman told parliament.
Responding to a question from MP Keramat Ali, the minister said the process began under the interim government and was continued by the current administration. District-level committees of four members, headed by district magistrates, were formed on March 5 to scrutinize applications. A six-member central committee headed by the law minister was formed on March 8 to review their recommendations.
In reply to a supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farroque, Asaduzzaman said any case, including murder, can be withdrawn if it is found to be politically motivated, except rape cases.
The minister also gave an update on cases related to the July 2024 uprising. Since then, 1,883 cases have been filed over killings, enforced disappearances and torture allegedly committed under the previous Awami League government, including 805 murder cases. Investigations are complete in 293 of these, with charge sheets submitted, and final reports have been filed in 91. Investigations into the rest are continuing.
Of the cases registered with the International Crimes Tribunal, 79 are linked to the uprising. Verdicts have been delivered in eight, with 24 defendants sentenced to death and 49 given other prison terms. Another 26 cases are at the trial stage.
