Over 1,200 ‘Political’ Cases Approved for Withdrawal: Home Minister

The Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, has announced that the government has approved the withdrawal of a further 1,202 politically motivated cases filed against opposition party leaders and activists during the previous regime, which he described as “fascist” and responsible for political harassment over the past 17 years.

A brief press release signed by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ public relations officer, Faisal Hasan, confirmed the latest approvals on Tuesday. The statement noted that these cases had been lodged primarily during periods of political unrest and were widely perceived as instruments of intimidation against rival political forces.

This development follows an earlier announcement last Sunday, in which Faisal Hasan stated that approval had already been granted for the withdrawal of 1,006 similar politically motivated cases. Taken together, these measures reflect the government’s ongoing effort to address past political grievances and reduce judicial backlogs stemming from politically charged litigation.

Earlier, on 8 February, the Ministry of Law had released a notification indicating that the interim government had recommended the withdrawal of 23,865 politically motivated cases. These cases involved leaders and activists from various political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Gonadhikar Parishad, among others. The recommendation aimed to clear the courts of cases widely recognised as politically inspired and to restore public confidence in judicial impartiality.

Summary of Politically Motivated Case Withdrawals

The Home Minister emphasised that these actions form part of a broader effort to ensure justice, reduce politically influenced legal pressure, and support the rule of law. Observers suggest that these withdrawals may also help improve political reconciliation and ease longstanding tensions between rival parties.

The government’s systematic review and withdrawal of politically motivated cases is being closely monitored by legal experts, civil society organisations, and opposition parties alike, reflecting the sensitive and highly scrutinised nature of the process.