Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, has warned that legal action will be taken against those who file frivolous or ill-intended lawsuits aiming to harass people. The ministry has recently issued directives on this matter.
He further stated that individuals who lodge cases against innocent people or use legal threats to extort money will face appropriate consequences.
The adviser made these remarks while briefing journalists at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Sector Headquarters in Rajshahi this afternoon.
Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation, or MSF, a rights watchdog led by Advocate Sultana Kamal, has reported that at least 268 cases were filed against 1.94 lakh people following the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5, till August 31. The vast majority of these cases targeted AL leaders and activists including party resident and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In those cases, MSF reported 26,268 of the accused were named, while around 1.68 lakh others remained unnamed.
In response to a question from journalists about public concerns regarding the police's inability to function fully, the adviser said, "Since August 5, the police have made significant improvements from their previous state. The force has been working through a trauma, and while I can't fix it overnight, the situation is gradually improving. We will need some more time to see further progress."
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When asked whether the government has specific information about Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and former Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the adviser stated, "We do not have any specific information regarding them. However, if you have any such information, you are encouraged to share it, and you will be rewarded for your assistance."
On the matter of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Tribunal against Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader, and the efforts to bring them back to the country, the adviser said, "The Foreign Affairs Adviser has already addressed this issue in detail in the media. We have an agreement with India regarding this, and we will certainly follow that agreement."
During the briefing, Major General Mohammad Ashraful Islam Siddique, Director General of BGB, Brigadier General S M Zahidur Rahman, Rangpur Region Commander, and Colonel Md Imran Ibn Rouf, Rajshahi Sector Commander, were also present.