Home Minister announces bill for Protection of July Fighters

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced that a bill will soon be passed in Parliament to grant legal and constitutional protection, known as indemnity, to the ‘July fighters’ who took part in the student-led mass uprising in July and August. 

He made the statement while responding to supplementary questions from Members of Parliament Akhtar Hossain and Zainul Abdin Farooq during the National Parliament session on Monday.

The Home Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to providing indemnity to the July fighters as outlined in the fifth or sixth point of the ‘July National Charter’. 

He noted that in line with this pledge, the ‘July Fighters Protection Ordinance’ was issued during the interim government period. This ordinance has now been placed before the National Parliament along with 133 other ordinances.

Salahuddin Ahmed informed the House that a special parliamentary committee has been formed to examine these ordinances.

He assured members that there is unanimous agreement to convert the ‘July Fighter Protection’ ordinance into a bill and pass it in Parliament.

Regarding the violence during the uprising, the Home Minister said that those who attacked protesters like an invading force and committed mass killings may have faced public resistance, describing the situation as a battlefield. 

The ordinance aims to protect the July fighters in such circumstances, an issue on which people across the country are united.

On the question of trials for the killings, he stated that specific cases have been filed in connection with various police murders. Some are being tried under the International Crimes Tribunal Act while others fall under general law. Investigations and charge-sheet submissions are continuing, with several trials already underway and arrangements made for live television broadcasts. 

Acknowledging that the legal and judicial process requires time, the Home Minister called for public cooperation to ensure a fair trial environment.

In response to another supplementary question, Salahuddin Ahmed declared that anyone who carried out armed attacks during the July-August movement — whether wearing police uniforms or acting as terrorists from Jubo League or Chhatra League — would be treated as criminals regardless of their affiliation. 

Cases have already been filed against them, and if any have been overlooked, new ones should be lodged. All cases will be properly investigated and judged by the judiciary.