The High Court on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to introduce biometric systems at all jails and police stations across the country, aiming to prevent the jailing of innocent people and identify the real accused.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after disposing of a rule.

The HC also declared the arrest warrant issued against Zahir Uddin in 2017 who was implicated in a sabotage case wrongfully, as illegal.

The HC suggested the Home Ministry collect fingerprints, handprints and eyeball scans of the accused, take the photograph of the accused and preserve it and introduce biometric systems in all jails.

Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for Zahir Uddin while deputy attorney general Bipul Bagmar represented the state.   

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) last week submitted a report saying Mohammad Zahir Uddin of Basurhat in Noakhali district, was not the actual accused in the case filed with Khilgaon Police Station under the Sabotage Act.

The real accused was identified as Modasser Ansari alias Mohaddes, son of Ahsan Ullah of Companiganj upazila of Noakhali district.

On March 10 last year, the HC bench stayed the arrest warrant issued against Zahir Uddin by a Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The HC also asked the PBI to investigate whether Zahir Uddin was the actual accused in the case or not.

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According to the PBI report, submitted by PBI additional superintendent of police Sarwar Alam, there is no evidence against Zahir and he is not the real accused.

During the investigation, PBI found Modasser Ansari as the real accused in the case, the report said.

On April 9, 2013, police arrested Modasser Ansari in a case filed with Khilgaon Police Station.

Modasser, during his arrest, concealed his actual identity and identified himself as Zahir Uddin, son of Azgar Ali of Basurhat in Noakhali district.

On October 31, that year, Modasser secured bail and went into hiding after walking out of the Dhaka Central Jail.

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On April 8, 2014, police submitted chargesheet against Zahir and others in the case.   

On October 11, 2017, the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate issued a warrant for the arrest of Zahir Uddin in the case.

Later, Zahir Uddin filed a petition challenging the legality of the arrest warrant.