EMRUL HASAN BAPPI

Nearly two years after the July mass uprising, police have not been able to complete investigations into more than 90 percent of the 1,855 cases filed over killings and violence during the uprising, deepening concern and frustration among victims’ families and those falsely accused in many of the cases.

Of the cases filed across the country, 799 were lodged over murders and the rest 1,056 on other charges, including attempted murder, according to the Police Headquarters (PHQ).

Police officials said probes have been completed in 176 cases (about 9.5 percent), with charge sheets submitted in 156 cases (8.4 percent).

In Dhaka alone, 905 cases, including 555 on murder charges have been filed with various police stations, and investigations have been completed in 43 cases (4.75 percent), according to court documents and police.

Case documents show that of the 43 cases, 24 saw submission of charge sheets, while police have submitted final reports in 19 cases, including 13 over murders, clearing all the accused of criminal charges.

When asked, several officials at the PHQ said it is taking considerable time to complete probes as a huge number of people were named as accused in these cases.

Legal experts said the slow progress in investigations reflects both the complexity of the cases and weaknesses in the country’s criminal justice system.

“Filing of a large number of cases immediately after a mass uprising is not unusual, but investigations must be conducted with due diligence and completed within a reasonable timeframe,” said Ishrat Hasan, a lawyer at the Supreme Court.

“If probes remain stalled for years, both the victims and those falsely accused suffer, ultimately undermining public confidence in the justice system,” she noted.

Ishrat also pointed out that many of the cases were filed accusing a large number of unnamed people, which made investigations more complex and time-consuming.

“Ensuring accountability for the killings and safeguarding those wrongly accused are equally important for upholding the rule of law… If the authorities fail to ensure transparent, impartial, and timely investigations, the justice process will become ineffective.”

She further said the authorities should prioritise scrutinising the cases, separating weak or politically motivated complaints from genuine allegations.

Meanwhile, thousands of people, including dozens of journalists, have been waiting for the disposal of the cases, with many claiming that they were not involved in the killings or acts of violence during the uprising.

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