Nearly 80 percent of the cases filed against the July–August protesters in Dhaka ended with police investigation reports acknowledging that offences occurred but failing to identify or prosecute any accused, according to official data.
Police filed a total of 289 cases across different police stations in Dhaka city between mid-July and the first week of August 2024. Of those, 230 cases were marked as FRT (Final Report True), while 14 remain under investigation and 34 were classified as FRT Factual Error.
The cases were lodged between 17 July 2024 and 5 August 2024 in connection with the July mass uprising. Police mainly invoked sections of the Penal Code, including 143, 147, 149, 332, 353, 302, 307, 427, and 436.
Investigators also applied provisions of the Explosive Substances Act 1908, the Special Powers Act 1974, and the Cyber Security Act 2023.
This report has been prepared using data collected from Bangladesh Police and various media reports.
After completing a criminal investigation, police recently submitted a probe report to the court, commonly known as a police report or charge sheet. When police fail to establish the truth of an offence or cannot identify the accused, they submit a Final Report.
Police file the Final Reports under section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Police Regulations of Bengal 1943, particularly regulation 272, provide detailed classifications of Final Reports, including True, False, Factual Error, and Mistake of Law.
FRT True
An FRT True means police confirmed that the offence described in the case did occur. However, investigators failed to identify or arrest the offenders or lacked sufficient evidence to charge anyone. If the court accepts such a report, proceedings remain suspended. The case may reopen if police later find new evidence or identify suspects.
FRT Factual Error
An FRT Factual Error applies when police find that the complaint was not false but contained errors in facts or legal provisions. In such cases, investigators report that the incident did not occur as described in the first information report (FIR). When courts accept this report, the accused are discharged and the case concludes.
Of the 14 cases still under investigation, 13 include section 302 of the Penal Code, which deals with murder. This indicates that allegations of death feature in almost all pending cases.
The cases filed during the 2024 mass movement in Dhaka remain at different stages of clearance. While authorities have resolved most cases, several serious allegations remain under investigation.
In the cases marked as “Final Report True,” police acknowledged that offences occurred but could not identify or prosecute offenders. These cases may reopen if investigators secure fresh evidence or identify suspects in the future.
