Govt approves ordinance granting indemnity to July Uprising activists

The government today approved the July Mass Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance, granting indemnity to participants of the July mass uprising for actions organised as part of political resistance.

Briefing journalists at the Foreign Service Academy, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said, “I had announced earlier that this was our commitment to the participants of the July mass uprising. It was a commitment rooted in our determination to build a new Bangladesh. As part of that commitment, the ordinance has been approved today by the advisory council.”

Asif Nazrul said the ordinance is expected to become law within five to seven days through a gazette notification.

He explained that immunity applies to organised activities aimed at overthrowing the fascist government and restoring democracy, carried out during July and August 2024.

“From now on, no new cases can be filed against them for activities carried out in July and August that were organised for political resistance. Existing cases will be withdrawn, and no new cases will be allowed,” said the law adviser.

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However, he clarified that the indemnity will not cover crimes committed for personal gain, greed, revenge, or narrow interests.

“Such killings are not related to the July mass uprising, nor to the objective of political resistance. This law was not enacted to grant indemnity for crimes driven by personal motives,” he said.

Law adviser noted that families who believe victims were killed for personal reasons, with no connection to overthrowing the fascist government, may approach the Human Rights Commission, which will investigate and submit reports to the court, treated in the same manner as police investigation reports.

Responding to questions on killings of police personnel during the uprising, he reiterated that any death outside the scope of political resistance would fall under commission review.

Nazrul also announced that the Human Rights Commission will be formed by January 31, with the selection committee already holding its first meeting.

“A public notice will likely be published today or tomorrow. By January 31, we aim to form the strongest, most powerful, and -- In sha Allah -- the most effective Human Rights Commission in Bangladesh’s history,” he said.