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More than 24,000 cases filed for political harassment during previous regime withdrawn; district and central committees overseeing review process
More than 24,000 cases filed for political reasons during the previous government have so far been withdrawn, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has told Parliament, saying the government has taken fresh initiatives to expedite the process and make it more effective.
A total of 24,013 politically motivated and harassment-related cases have been withdrawn so far, the minister said in a written reply to a question in Parliament on Tuesday.
He said the process of withdrawing politically motivated cases had begun during the interim government, but the present government had taken special initiatives to accelerate the process after assuming office.
The minister provided the information during the question-and-answer session on the second day of the fourth session of the 13th Parliament. Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram chaired the sitting.
Responding to a question from Chapainawabganj-1 MP Md Keramat Ali, the law minister outlined the government’s initiatives to identify and withdraw cases allegedly filed to harass political opponents during the previous government.
In his question, the MP pointed out that thousands of people were still facing harassment because of delays in disposing of what he described as false and politically motivated cases filed during the previous fascist regime. He sought an explanation for the delay and wanted to know whether the government had a roadmap for completing the withdrawal process and bringing relief to those affected.
In response, Asaduzzaman said the government had strengthened the existing initiative to ensure that genuine cases of political harassment were identified and dealt with through the appropriate legal process.
As part of the initiative, four-member committees were formed at the district level on March 5, 2026, with the respective district magistrates serving as chairpersons. The committees are responsible for examining allegations of political harassment and recommending the withdrawal of cases that meet the prescribed criteria.
Explaining the mechanism, the minister said the district committees review applications seeking withdrawal of cases, certified copies of first information reports (FIRs), charge sheets where applicable, and opinions from the relevant public prosecutors.
The committees assess several factors before making recommendations, including whether a case was filed with the intention of politically harassing an individual, whether its continuation serves the public interest, and whether pursuing it could undermine the interests of the state.
The minister stressed that recommendations for withdrawal are made only after examining the relevant documents and assessing the circumstances surrounding each case.
To ensure coordination and scrutiny of recommendations from the district-level committees, the government formed a six-member central committee on March 8, 2026, with the law minister as its convener.
The central committee is responsible for examining the recommendations submitted by the district committees and coordinating the overall process of withdrawing cases considered politically motivated.
Asaduzzaman said the government would continue taking necessary legal steps to withdraw cases found to have been filed for political harassment, based on the recommendations of the district-level committees.
The initiative is aimed at providing relief to people who have faced prolonged legal proceedings and harassment over cases allegedly brought against them for political reasons. However, the withdrawal process is subject to scrutiny and the completion of the required legal procedures.
The government’s approach involves examining cases individually rather than withdrawing them indiscriminately, with particular attention to the circumstances in which they were filed, the available legal documents and the public interest in continuing prosecution.
The latest disclosure in Parliament comes amid continuing concerns over the large number of cases filed during the previous regime and the legal and financial burdens faced by those accused. For many defendants, prolonged proceedings have meant repeated court appearances, legal expenses and uncertainty, even where allegations of political motivation have been raised.
The government has indicated that the district and central committee mechanism will remain the principal channel for reviewing such cases and recommending withdrawal in accordance with the law.