HC suspends police approval requirement in anti-discrimination cases
- Update Time : 07:49:45 am, Wednesday, 23 April 2025
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The High Court has temporarily suspended for three months the effectiveness of a directive signed on behalf of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner, which required prior approval from higher authorities before arresting any accused in cases related to the anti-discrimination student movement. The order was issued on Wednesday (April 23) by a bench consisting of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi. The court had earlier set the date after hearing a writ petition filed on April 20 by Supreme Court lawyer Md. Jasim Uddin, challenging the legality of the DMP directive. The writ was presented by senior lawyer Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol. According to the DMP’s circular dated April 9, in most of the cases filed in connection with the student movement, the number of accused named in the FIRs is significantly high. Therefore, arrests must be made only with sufficient evidence—such as victim statements, eyewitness accounts, relevant audio/video/photo materials, or call records—and with the prior approval of senior officials. The directive requested that no accused listed in the FIR or identified through investigation be arrested without such approval.
