Police instructed not to arrest govt officials without proper evidence

57

DHAKA: Police units directed to submit updated reports to Police Headquarters by September 22, Authorities have instructed law enforcement not to arrest government officials and workers without concrete evidence in cases related to the student movement.

This decision came during the first meeting of the law and order advisory council. A letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs was sent to Police Headquarters on September 8, followed by another letter signed by DIG (Confidential) Kamrul Hasan on September 10, which was dispatched to various police units.

 

 

According to sources, hundreds of cases have been filed accusing various individuals, including former and current officials, politicians, activists, journalists and others, since the Dr Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took office after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime last month in the face of a mass uprising.

The uprising followed weeks of violent protests, which led to the deaths of over 700 people, per official records, during July and August.

Sources familiar with the matter said many cases involved mass accusations against a wide range of individuals, sparking nationwide criticism.

In response, the advisory council said no one would be harassed through indiscriminate filing of cases.

During the council’s first meeting, two key decisions were made: first, government officials and employees should not be arrested without solid evidence in cases filed by the families of those who died or were affected by the uprising; and second, if no initial evidence is found implicating any individual in cases related to the uprising, their names should be withdrawn.

A source from Police Headquarters said these decisions had been communicated to all police unit heads. They had also been instructed to submit updated reports to Police Headquarters by September 22, the source added.