Bangladesh’s government has promulgated a new ordinance granting legal immunity to people who took part in the July Uprising, a mass protest movement that led to the fall of the former government in 2024.
The July Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Ordinance, 2026, was issued through a gazette notification on Sunday night by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
The ordinance provides blanket protection to participants in the July and August 2024 protests by ordering the withdrawal of all existing civil and criminal cases linked to the uprising and barring the filing of any new cases against those involved.
According to the ordinance, students and other citizens participated in nationwide demonstrations to overthrow what it describes as a “fascist regime” and to restore democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It formally recognises those events as the July Uprising.
The document states that participants were compelled to take necessary actions, including self-defence, to prevent arbitrary killings and armed attacks allegedly carried out by the former government and to restore public order during the unrest.
Under the ordinance, any civil or criminal case, complaint or legal proceeding filed against participants for actions connected to the uprising must be withdrawn. It also stipulates that no new legal action may be initiated in such cases.
If a case is filed despite the prohibition, the public prosecutor or a government-appointed lawyer may apply to the relevant court for its dismissal. Upon receiving such an application, the court is required to halt proceedings, effectively resulting in the immediate acquittal of the accused.
The ordinance allows allegations of killings during the uprising to be investigated by the National Human Rights Commission. However, it bars officials of government institutions or law enforcement agencies implicated in the events from conducting such investigations.
Any arrest during an investigation would require prior approval from the Human Rights Commission, the ordinance says.
If an investigation concludes that the actions in question were part of political resistance, the commission may recommend government compensation for affected families. However, the ordinance makes clear that no criminal or civil case can be filed in such circumstances.
The government has also retained the authority to frame additional rules as necessary to implement the provisions of the ordinance.
