Over 24,000 Politically Motivated Cases Withdrawn So Far: Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman

The Bangladesh government has withdrawn 24,013 cases filed for political harassment, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman informed Parliament today.

Responding to a query from MP Keramat Ali, the minister explained that the withdrawal process was initiated during the interim administration and has been actively expanded under the current government. He stated that cases filed during the former Awami League regime are undergoing evaluation based on recommendations submitted by specialized district-level committees.

To manage the legal reviews, a four-member committee headed by the District Magistrate was instituted in March to analyze formal applications, certified charge sheets, and public prosecutor opinions. The panel assesses whether legal actions were initiated for political victimization or if continuing prosecution impacts public and state interests. A six-member central committee, chaired by the Law Minister, oversees nationwide reviews and final recommendations.

Clarifying the scope of the screening process in response to a supplementary question from BNP MP Zainul Abdin Farroque, Asaduzzaman confirmed that cases of any nature—including murder—are eligible for withdrawal if proven to be politically motivated, with the strict exception of rape cases.

The minister advised affected political leaders and activists to submit standardized application forms for evaluation, noting that cases are not formally tagged as “political” upon filing. He also highlighted that former prime minister Khaleda Zia and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman never requested case withdrawals for themselves, choosing instead to let their legal matters proceed and resolve through standard court procedures.