The High Court on Thursday sought a report on the latest status of seized pieces of evidence and items preserved at depositories in police stations and courts across the country.
The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah issued the order.
The inspector general of police (IGP) has been asked to submit a report detailing the conditions of the seized items, evidence and articles in the court within two months.
The court said if the report is not submitted, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir stood on behalf of the writ petitioner in the court.
On the other hand, Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy and Assistant Attorney General Salim Azad represented the state.
Shishir Monir said that the seized items and evidence worth Tk10,000 crore have reportedly been stored carelessly at the depositories across the country. Since the confiscated goods are left like this for years, they are not useful to the state and the owner.
“We have seen, among the seized goods, there are various items including buses, trucks and motorcycles. We have not seen such mismanagement of seized goods anywhere else in the world. So we have sent a legal notice to the authorities concerned to take appropriate action in this regard.”
Earlier on August 28, 2022, a writ was filed in the High Court seeking directives for the proper management of the goods seized by the police stations or courts.
Five lawyers of the Supreme Court filed the writ in the branch concerned of the High Court.
The lawyers are Mohammad Nawab Ali, Md Mujahedul Islam, Mostafizur Rahman, GM Mujahidur Rahman and Imrul Kayes.
On August 30, 2022, another High Court bench had ordered the IGP to submit before this court a report in six months on how the seized evidence and items are preserved and disposed of at the police stations and depositories.
It also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be directed to take necessary steps to properly preserve and manage the seized evidence, articles and items including valuable cars and vehicles in police stations and depositories.
