761 Cases Filed Against Police, 61 Arrested in 11 Months Since Mass Uprising: TIB Report

In the aftermath of the mass uprising, significant legal action has been taken against members of the country’s law enforcement agencies. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reported that in the past 11 months, a total of 761 cases have been filed against police personnel across the country. A total of 1,168 officers have been named as accused, of whom 61 have already been arrested.

These findings were presented by TIB today (Monday) at an event held at the MIDAS Center in Dhaka, where they unveiled a research report titled “New Bangladesh: Observations on One Year After the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime.”

TIB Fellow Shahzada M. Akram stated, “During the mass uprising, there were coordinated legal actions against police officers involved in attacks on protesting students and citizens, including those who gave orders or incited violence.” He further noted that a total of 1,602 cases have been filed in the past year, including 638 murder cases. Among the accused are around 87 former ministers and members of parliament from the ousted regime who have been arrested.

Shahzada M. Akram added, “Approximately 70% of the cases are progressing satisfactorily, and investigations in 60–70 murder cases are in their final stages.”

Significant progress has also been made in prosecuting crimes against humanity committed during the uprising. So far, 429 complaints have been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal, with 27 cases currently under trial. Among 206 accused in these cases, 73 have been arrested.

TIB confirmed that formal charges have been brought against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others, and trial proceedings have begun at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Additionally, most of the politically motivated or harassing cases filed against students and citizens during the movement (between July 1 and August 5, 2024) have been withdrawn, according to the TIB fellow.

However, TIB observed a lack of speed in tribunal proceedings. The organization warned that delays in justice could undermine public trust and question the credibility of the judicial process.

Present at the report launch were TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Fellows Md. Julkarnain and researcher Farhana Rahman, among others.