The interim government has recommended the withdrawal of 23,865 political harassment cases filed during the tenure of the previous Awami League administration.
This significant move is set to provide legal relief to approximately 500,000 individuals who were implicated in these cases between 6 January 2009 and 5 August 2024.
The recommendations specifically target cases filed against leaders and activists of various political organisations, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Gono Adhikar Parishad, among others.
The initiative aims to address what the current administration describes as a period of systematic harassment through the legal system.
To facilitate the withdrawal process, the interim government established district committees led by deputy commissioners (DC) and an inter-ministerial committee headed by Law Ministry Advisor Asif Nazrul on 22 September 2024.
These bodies were tasked with inviting and reviewing applications from political parties and victims seeking the dismissal of harassment-related charges.
According to Dr Md Rezaul Karim, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the inter-ministerial committee reached its decision after conducting a thorough examination of applications across 39 separate meetings.
Ministry officials have confirmed that this process is currently ongoing, as the government continues to evaluate further applications for withdrawal.
