Bangladesh’s interim government has acquitted several high-profile figures, including Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, of serious charges. Nobel laureate Yunus was cleared of graft and labour law violations. He, in turn, wasted no time in acquitting top officials convicted of the death penalty in the infamous 2004 10-truck arms haul case regarding smuggling weapons for ULFA militants.
Yunus was acquitted in a graft case filed by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) just four days after being cleared for labour law violations. He became the Chief Advisor after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned during a mass “student-led uprising” on 5 August 2024.
Judge Md Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge’s Court-4 of Dhaka accepted the ACC’s application to withdraw the prosecution under Section 494 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This decision, however, was only the beginning of a series of controversial moves under Yunus’s leadership.
Just a day before taking his oath, Prof. Yunus, also the chairman of Grameen Telecom, and its directors, including Ashraful Hassan, M Shahjahan, and Nurjahan Begum, were acquitted of charges related to labour law violations. The interim government also includes Nurjahan Begum as an advisor, who, like Yunus, was acquitted in the graft case. These charges had previously resulted in a six-month imprisonment sentence and fines. The labour law case was filed over the misappropriation of approximately Tk 25.22 crore from Grameen Telecom Workers’ profit participation fund.
The controversies did not stop with Yunus’s acquittals. In a particularly alarming development, Yunus, as Chief Advisor, reportedly approved the acquittal of several individuals convicted in the infamous 10-truck arms haul case.
Interim government's Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus has given nod to acquitting the following individuals, who were handed death penalty for their involvement in 10-truck arms haul (consignment of weapons and explosives destined to be sent to ULFA. (1/4)
— Ravi Mishra (रवि ರವಿ রাবি) (@RaviMishra2029) August 12, 2024
This case involved the smuggling of a massive consignment of weapons and explosives intended for the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), a terrorist organisation operating in India’s northeast region. The Chittagong court had previously sentenced 14 individuals, including former high-ranking officials from the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, to death for their involvement in this case.
Among those acquitted are high-profile figures such as:
- Md. Lutfuzzaman Babar: Former State Minister for Home Affairs during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government.
- Abdus Salam Pintu: Former Deputy Minister in the same government.
- Tarique Rahman: Acting Chairman of the BNP.
- Maj Gen (Retired) Rezzakul Hayder Chowdhury: Former Director General of the Directorate of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
- Wing Commander (Sacked) Shahab Uddin: Former Director of the National Security Intelligence (NSI).
The approval for their acquittal was initiated by Asif Nazrul, Advisor to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, known for his support of the BNP and strong anti-India stance. This controversial decision will be placed before President Muhammed Shahabuddin for final approval.
The 10-truck arms haul case, which dates back to 2004, exposed the involvement of the state machinery in the smuggling of weapons intended for ULFA terrorists. The haul included rocket launchers, AK-47 rifles, and other sophisticated arms, marking it as one of the largest weapons seized in Bangladesh’s history.
The decision to acquit those involved in the arms haul, coupled with Yunus’s rapid sequence of acquittals, has raised significant concerns about the direction of the interim government. Critics argue that these moves undermine the rule of law and raise questions about the motivations behind such decisions, especially given the historical and geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the ULFA case and its implications for regional security.
(With inputs from Organiser)
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