The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, headed by Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, has decided to ensure swift trial for those involved in the killings during the student and public protests in July and August.
A meeting between Dr Asif and officials from the Law and Justice Division also took four other key decisions at the ministry on Saturday.
Dr Asif Nazrul, who taught law at the University of Dhaka before being assigned to the new role, began the first day of tenure at his designated office at the Bangladesh Secretariat like other cabinet members on Saturday, following the oath of the interim government on Thursday.
The other four decisions taken at the meeting are as follows:
n Steps will be taken within the next three working days to withdraw all criminal cases filed between July 1 and August 5 in connection with suppressing the student and public protests.
n Arrangements will be made within the next three working days to release any children and adolescents detained in juvenile development centres under false or harassing cases.
n False or harassing cases filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Cyber Security Act will be swiftly withdrawn.
n Support will be provided through the toll-free national helpline number 16430 of the Law and Justice Division for those facing false or harassing cases.
UNB adds: While taking charge of the office earlier, Dr Asif Nazrul said that the interim government will remain as long as there is coordination between the people's desire for reform and the desire of the political parties for election.
Asked about the tenure of the interim government, he said: "There has been no decision about the tenure yet. Please keep two things in mind-the election to be held as soon as possible as per the expectation from this government, and the reform aspirations of the people of this country."
"We've seen in the past that attempts were made to use different state institutions, including police, judiciary, Anti-Corruption Commission, public universities, as weapons of repression on the people. Some good services were found from these organisations. There are some good people in these organisations. But the system was set up in such a way that institutions became a terror for dissenting voices and for those who were exercising their basic rights."
"People have the desire to reform them. We will stay as long as we are supposed to, balancing the desire for reform and the desire for new elections. Not more, not less," he said.
The new advisor to the law ministry went to the Secretariat around 9:35 am. Golam Sarwar, secretary to the ministry, and other officials, welcomed him.
Dr Asif Nazrul, was sworn in as adviser of the interim government on Thursday after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
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