Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said a draft Indemnity Ordinance is expected to be placed before the Council of Advisers at its next meeting, with the aim of providing legal protection to those involved in the July uprising.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook account on Thursday, Nazrul said the individuals described as “July warriors” had “risked their lives to free the country from fascist rule” and therefore “have the right to receive impunity” for their actions during the movement.
Nazrul argued that legislation granting immunity is also needed for what he described as “preventive activities” carried out against those accused of involvement in the killing of Sheikh Hasina during the July events.
He said indemnity laws of this nature exist in various countries that experienced political upheaval or mass uprisings, citing examples linked to the Arab Spring and other contemporary revolutions. “Such laws are completely legal,” he wrote.
The law adviser pointed to Article 46 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which permits the granting of immunity under certain circumstances. He also referenced the indemnity law introduced in 1973 for freedom fighters following the Liberation War, saying the proposed move aligns with historical precedent.
According to Nazrul, the Law Ministry has already drafted the ordinance and intends to present it for approval at the next Council of Advisers meeting. “Insha Allah, it will be presented,” he said, adding that safeguarding the outcomes of the July uprising is a “sacred duty.”
