Around 1,600 illegal drugs-related cases have been pending in 10 courts in Feni due to lack of witnesses and evidence, causing frustration for justice seekers.
According to court sources, a total of 134 cases are under procedure in the district and sessions judge’s court; 363 in the additional district and sessions judge’s court; 350 in the joint-assistant judge’s court 1 and special tribunal 3; and 405 cases in the joint assistant judge 2.
Moreover, 21 cases are pending in the chief judicial magistrate court; 104 in additional judicial magistrate court; 17 in special tribunal 1; 46 cases in special tribunal 2; and 130 cases in special tribunal 4.
Although the arrestees are in jail, the cases filed against them are not getting any further development.
Meanwhile, some cases were transferred to the chief judicial magistrate and the additional chief judicial magistrate courts to ease the bottleneck of the drugs-related cases.
Senior Assistant Police Superintendent (circle) Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said: “Charge sheets in the cases of illegal drugs need to be submitted within three weeks. If witness and evidence can be found, the accused persons get appropriate punishment.”
He said 253 illegal drugs-related cases were lodged in the last eight months this year in Feni. Of those, 157 cases were filed with Feni model police station, three with Sonagaji model police station, 55 with Chhagalnaya police station, 12 with Porshuram model police station, eight in Phulganj police station and eight with Daganbhuiyan police station.
Due to the delay in case proceedings, the criminals are taking advantage in different ways while they often threaten plaintiffs to withdraw the cases.
Public prosecutor Hafez Ahmed Said: “There are several allegations that the accused threaten witnesses.”
