Murder cases to be fast-tracked under Speedy Trial Act

In a move to deliver swift justice for the victims of the July uprising, the government has decid-ed to transfer hundreds of murder cases linked to the regime’s deadly crackdown to Speedy Trial Tribunals across the country.

The trials will be conducted under the provisions of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act 2002, exclud-ing cases currently being heard by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs announced the decision on Monday, in-voking Section 10 of the Act to pave the way for expedited proceedings.

The ministry has already formed a special committee, led by an additional secretary of the Law and Justice Division, to strengthen and streamline prosecutions of murder and other serious crimes committed during the uprising.

The committee has been tasked with compiling a full list of cases, identifying procedural or op-erational bottlenecks, submitting recommendations for necessary action, and regularly inform-ing affected families and the public about progress.

According to official figures, 837 murder cases have so far been filed across the country over the killing of unarmed students and civilians during the mass movement that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic Awami League government on 5 August 2024.