New Age | Cases of mass murder continue worryingly

DESPITE concerns expressed by various quarters, including political parties, and assurances from the authorities, collective killing cases have continued to be filed against Awami League leaders, activists, associates and even professionals associated with them. Such cases and detentions related to the cases following the overthrow of the Awami League regime on August 5 during the student uprising are worrying for several reasons. So far, about 140 murder cases have been filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5, and hundreds of Awami League leaders and activists, associates and professionals associated with the regime. Moreover, most of the cases involve named and unnamed individuals, while for many of the named individuals, any connection or complicity in murder cases during the July and August protests seems untenable. It is alleged that many businessmen and other professionals have been accused in the cases with ulterior motives or vested interests. One of the main problems with such mass murder cases is that they trivialise the crimes of some figures in the deposed Awami League government and the arbitrariness of the law enforcement agencies. These cases also seem to be a continuation of the misuse of legal instruments.

The protests, which initially began peacefully against a Supreme Court order to restore quotas for civil service jobs but later turned violent with attacks on the students by Awami League officials and police, left about 1,000 protesters and bystanders dead and about 20,000 injured, mostly by indiscriminate police firing and attacks by Awami League officials. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina and her government, one of the first demands was that the new government bring those responsible for the killings to justice. Many members of the deposed Awami League government and party officials are undoubtedly responsible for the killings, as are many in the law enforcement agencies. There are numerous photographs and video footage to prove this. It is also not difficult to identify the people involved in the attacks on the protesters, and the authorities must identify them and bring them to justice. Moreover, many Awami League leaders and professionals have been involved in countless financial and other crimes during the 15-year rule of the Awami League and these people must be brought to book for the crimes they have committed. Blanket murder cases against them will ultimately help them get off scot-free for the crimes they have actually committed. This will also lead to public perception that the authorities have failed to maintain due process of law.

It is not the case that all Awami League leaders, activists and aides were involved or complicit in the killings. Moreover, there are hundreds of Awami League leaders and activists who committed innumerable other crimes during the regime. The authorities should therefore ensure that concrete charges are brought against Awami League leaders and activists for the crimes committed not only during the student protests but during the entire regime.