AMID concerns about the dubious nature of many cases filed in connection with the July massacre, such cases are repeatedly filed against political leaders, activists, aides and, even, cultural personalities presumably close to the Awami League regime. On April 29, an injured victim of the July uprising filed such a case of attempted murder against at least 17 artistes, including two actors and former Awami League lawmakers. Another case of this nature is disturbing given that the inspector general of police and two advisers have recently termed the cases 鈥榙isturbing鈥� and 鈥榚mbarrassing鈥� after a celebrated actor was named accused in a murder case alongside the deposed prime minister on April 20. While the grievances of July martyrs鈥� families are more than justified, the legitimacy of many of the cases that have since been filed was dubious as they lacked credible evidence and were potentially used as a means of harassing the accused. The trend of filing frivolous lawsuits continued despite government directives and condemnation by several advisers and therefore created grounds to explore whether the cases are filed to sabotage chances of justice. This is an issue that the government should seriously look into.
The tendency to file cases against a large number of named and unnamed accused, a practice normalised during the overthrown Awami League regime, has also become common during the post-uprising government. The wholesale murder cases are a cause for concern because they carry the risk of turning the entire legal proceedings controversial, especially when eminent lawyers, academicians, journalists and cultural personalities are named accused. The failure to legally separate the nature of the offences for those directly participating in the July massacre and those ideologically supporting the regime is concerning and created room for the abuse of the legal process. In December 2024, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner confirmed that a section of complainants in cases filed after the political changeover were extorting money from some of the accused. Three Awami League leaders who had died long before the July uprising were named accused for their involvement in the violence against students in Cumilla. These cases appear to have been filed for reasons other than seeking justice, which, as experts say, will contribute to the public trust deficit in the legal system.
The authorities concerned should, therefore, ask the police to be thorough and exercise caution in filing cases related to the July massacre because wholesale murder cases are a procedural violation that carries the risk of making the legal process controversial. The court is expected to instruct lower courts to review facts before taking cognisance of cases related to the July massacre.
