United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said the government is committed to providing legal and constitutional protection for those involved in the July uprising as outlined in the July National Charter. He told parliament that during the previous interim government, an ordinance titled the July War Protection Ordinance was issued and later presented in Parliament. The current government has unanimously agreed to enact this ordinance as a formal bill. Responding to criticism on social media, the Home Minister said that calls by what he described as the “Awami fascist group” for justice in past killings could potentially lead to legal challenges against freedom fighters for actions taken during the Liberation War, including the killing of Razakars, if such cases are filed. Referring to the July mass uprising, he said people  who attacked protesters ‘like occupying forces’ and committed acts of violence faced public resistance. Some lost their lives and others were injured during these confrontations which he described as decisions made ‘on the battlefield.’ He reiterated that the ordinance provides protection for the July fighters. “Specific cases related to killings by police have been filed. Some are being tried in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) while others are under the general penal code. Investigations are ongoing, and several charge sheets have already been submitted,” the minister added. The minister also said verdicts in two cases against Sheikh Hasina and some of her associates including a former Home Minister have already been delivered and these proceedings were broadcast live. The Home Minister said the judiciary will operate independently and the government will not interfere in legal proceedings. He said these during the parliamentary question-answer session when  NCP MP from Rangpur Akter Hossain raised concerns over alleged police misconduct over the past 16 years. He claimed some officers acted outside the law, particularly during July, participating in killings and torture on their own initiative. He asked whether the Ministry of Home Affairs would take departmental action against such officers in addition to judicial proceedings. He also questioned whether the ministry had any plans to address what he described as ongoing unrest allegedly fuelled by the Awami League through narratives surrounding “police killings.”  

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.