Trials based on pre-Aug 5 theories won’t work, AG tells judges

Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman delivered a stark message to judges at a workshop in the Jashore PTI auditorium on Saturday afternoon: justice cannot be served if tethered to outdated frameworks. 

Addressing a room of legal and law enforcement officials, he pointed to the case of martyr Mughda, whose body, he said, was rejected by hospitals and denied a post-mortem by the administration after his death.  

“The bearers of Mughda’s body told us no hospital would accept it. A post-mortem wasn’t possible—the administration blocked entry. The media exposed this, but now, if you rule the accused committed murder, there’s no post-mortem report to back it up,” Asaduzzaman said, his tone a mix of frustration and urgency. 

“So what do I do? I humbly urge you to order a new police report. Interpret the law progressively—it won’t work if you rely on theories from before August 5. History’s turning point is staring us in the face,” said Asaduzzaman.  

The workshop, chaired by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, came at a pivotal moment for Bangladesh’s justice system. The home ministry arranged the workshop on law enforcement in the changed scenario.

Asaduzzaman drew a sharp line between the past and present. “We proudly say the police before August 5 and after August 5 are not the same,” he told the officers present. “Before that date, 60 lakh unnamed cases were filed—100% with police as plaintiffs. Since then? Not a single one.”  

He painted a grim picture of the pre-August 5 era: over 700 people vanished, more than 4,500 killed without trial, and 6 million cases orchestrated by law enforcement. “These acts carry every hallmark of crimes against humanity,” he declared, noting the collapse of a judicial-police syndicate that once plagued the system.  

Under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Asaduzzman said, Bangladesh is poised for a future rooted in good governance and justice. “The police must investigate with care—no innocent person should suffer,” he cautioned, signalling a shift toward accountability.  

Special guest Mohammad Tajul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, echoed the call for transformation. “This country is changing. In the Bangladesh of tomorrow, you’ll answer to the law and constitution—not any individual. You must choose whose side you’re on,” he told the attendees.  

The workshop also featured remarks from Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider, Additional IG of CID Matiur Rahman Sheikh, and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Ataur Rahman Khan.