The police have taken the initiative to speed up the pending cases against the top leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Top opposition leaders including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and senior leaders of Jamaat are accused in these cases. But the trial proceedings or investigations in these cases have been suspended by various orders of the High Court.
Meanwhile, the BNP has prepared a list of 500 police officers who were allegedly involved in vote rigging and persecution of opposition activists. The party took the initiative on May 23, a day before the US government declared its new visa policy eying fair polls in Bangladesh.
Individuals who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process include current and former government officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services, Blinken said in a statement.
The Police Headquarters recently sent letters to the heads of the units concerned, asking them to activate the case processing. Letters have also been sent to the Attorney General's Office from various police units.
According to sources, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has 25 such cases filed with different police stations. The letters have been sent to the investigating officers concerned to initiate these cases. They have been asked to apply to the High Court to withdraw the suspension orders in the case.
One of the letters signed by Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Sachin Chakma of the DMP Headquarters said: “Proceedings/investigations of criminal cases under your department are suspended as per orders of the High Court. Under the direction of the Police Headquarters, you are asked to take necessary measures on an urgent basis to initiate the pending cases on the order of the court.”
Contacted, DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime) Biplab Bijoy Talukdar said: "We have written a letter on behalf of the DMP to start the investigation of the cases which were suspended by court orders. We have also written to the attorney general.”
He said: "We have requested the attorney general to get the stay orders withdrawn in about 40 cases. There are different types of cases. This initiative has been taken to initiate the investigation or trial of those cases—no matter whether those are political or non-political matters.”
According to DMP sources, 15 cases out of 25 cases initiated by DMP were filed during the BNP-Jamaat's violent movement in 2013. The remaining 10 cases were filed in 2015. Paltan police station has a maximum of six cases to start the investigation. Mugda and Khilgaon police stations have four each and Jatrabari police station has three cases. Besides, there are two cases each with Ramna, Motijheel, Demra and Sabujbag police stations. Mirza Fakhrul is accused in six of these cases.
On January 24, 2015, the police registered a case under the Explosives Act at Jatrabari police station. The accused in this case, which has been suspended by the order of the High Court, include BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Barkat Ullah Bulu, Amanullah Aman and Salahuddin Ahmed. Besides, withdrawal of the suspension order has been sought in a case filed at Ramna police station in 2013 on charges of rioting, injuring government officials, and using force on a government official. Sixteen BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Barkat Ullah Bulu, Amanullah Aman, Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anyi, and Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.
According to sources, Jamaat leaders Dr Fakhruddin Manik and Shamim Sayedee are accused in a case of Explosive Substances Act filed at Motijheel police station on January 28, 2013. It was learnt that the lawyers of the accused have applied for adjournment of the case.
In a recent press conference, the BNP secretary general said: "It has come to our attention that 13,500 cases have been identified for revival. The cases will be heard and sentenced before the next general election. All are political cases and the accused are the top leaders of opposition parties including the BNP.
“It is a very nice plan. If the BNP leaders can be caught in the case and sentenced, then they (Awami League) can hold elections according to the constitution. They have amended the constitution to stay in power. Now they will hold an election according to the constitution…and there will be no opponent.”
Several police officers said that the investigation, charge sheet and trial of the case is a continuous process. There is no political motive here. Not all cases initiated for revival are political. There is a legal obligation to initiate investigations into long-pending cases. It can be said whether an accused is innocent or guilty after the trials of the cases.
