Bangladesh approves Uprising protection ordinance, shielding activists from criminal liability

Advisor says it grants immunity to activists for actions organised during the movement with the objective of political resistance

The Advisory Council has approved a draft of the July Mass Uprising Protection and Accountability Ordinance aimed at providing legal protection to those who took part in the movement.

The approval comes at a meeting of the Advisory Council held on Thursday, chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the afternoon, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said the move fulfils a prior commitment made to participants of the July Uprising.

“We had announced this earlier, it was our commitment to the July Uprising participants. The July Mass Uprising Protection and Accountability Ordinance has been approved by the cabinet today.

“We hope it will be enacted into law through a gazette notification within the next five to seven days,” he said.

Nazrul explained that the ordinance primarily grants immunity to activists for actions organised during the movement with the objective of political resistance.

“By political resistance, we mean activities organised with the aim of restoring a democratic system of governance through the fall of a ‘fascist’ government.

“For all such activities, the July Uprising activists have been granted exemption from criminal liability. This applies to activities organised during July and August,” he added.