United News of Bangladesh

The government has promulgated the July Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Ordinance, 2026, providing immunity to the people who participated in the July Uprising. A gazette notification was issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry on Sunday night in this regard. The ordinance ensures withdrawal of all existing civil and criminal cases related to the uprising and bars the filing of any new cases against the participants. Visit July Uprising Museum at Gonobhaban to witness brutal history: CA In July and August 2024, students and other citizens took part in mass protests to overthrow a fascist regime and restore democracy, human rights and the rule of law which is recognised as July Uprising, the ordinance says. During the uprising, participants were compelled to take necessary steps including self-defense to prevent arbitrary killings and armed attacks orchestrated by the fascist government and to restore public order, it said. It stipulates that all civil or criminal cases, complaints, or proceedings filed against the participants for their involvement in the uprising will be withdrawn and no new legal action can be initiated. If any case is filed, the public prosecutor or government-appointed lawyer may submit an application to the relevant court which will then halt all proceedings, effectively granting immediate acquittal to the accused. Govt approves draft ordinance granting indemnity to July Uprising participants The ordinance allows allegations of killings during the uprising to be investigated by the Human Rights Commission. However, officials of institutions or law enforcement agencies involved cannot be assigned the investigation, it added. Arrests during investigations require prior approval from the commission. If investigations find the actions were part of political resistance, the commission may recommend government compensation to affected families but no legal case can be filed. The government may frame rules as necessary to implement the ordinance.

Police detained former minister Latif Siddique and several others after tensions erupted during an event organised by ‘Manch 71, a platform of freedom fighters, in the capital on Thursday.  A group of youths, identifying themselves as ‘July Fighters’, handed them over to police around 12pm as they were allegedly trying to create chaos  at the event at Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), witnesses said. ‘Manch 71’ organised a roundtable titled ‘Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh’. Freedom fighters, lawyers, writers, journalists, teachers and former bureaucrats attended the event. Ex-minister Inu threatens police: ‘I will destroy your entire lineage’ Lawyer ZI Khan Panna, one of the organisers, said, “If events cannot be held even at a place like Dhaka Reporters Unity then where does the freedom of expression in this country exist? Everyone knows these incidents take place at the behest of those in power.” Television footage showed Siddique sitting quietly on a chair while angry people surrounded him shouting slogans.