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provisions under Section 173A are being followed properly, with a focus on ensuring that investigation officers submit accurate interim investigation reports when required.

The home ministry disclosed the updates in a circular, signed by Shafiul Alam, assistant secretary of the ministry.

A senior official at the home ministry clarified to The Daily Star last night that although Section 173A mandates the submission of interim investigation reports in all criminal cases, the newly formed committees -- effective immediately -- will specifically focus on uprising-related cases.

According to Section 173A, before completion of an investigation of any case, the police commissioner or the district superintendent of police or any other officer of equivalent rank supervising the investigation may require the investigating officer to submit an interim investigation report.

And, if the interim investigation report finds insufficient evidence against any accused, the police commissioner, district superintendent of police, or equivalent officer may direct the investigating officer to submit the report to the magistrate concerned, who may, if satisfied, order the discharge of the accused.

At the district level, a four-member committee will be headed by the district magistrate, with the superintendent of police and public prosecutor as members, while the additional superintendent of police (crime and ops) will be the member secretary.

For metropolitan areas, a similar committee will be set up under the leadership of the metropolitan police commissioner. This committee will also include a representative of the divisional commissioner and a metropolitan public prosecutor as members, and an officer of the rank of superintendent of police, will be the member secretary.

The ministry-level committee will be chaired by the adviser to the law ministry, with the senior secretary, additional secretary (law and order), joint secretary of the home ministry as the members, and the deputy secretary/senior assistant secretary from the home ministry will be the member secretary.

The district and metropolitan committees will monitor the submission of interim investigation reports and document how many individuals are being discharged based on the reports.

The committees will submit reports twice a month to the ministry-level committee, detailing their findings and recommendations.

The ministry-level committee will oversee the work of the district and metropolitan committees.