Ordinance granting immunity to July protesters ratified

Parliament passed a bill ratifying an ordinance granting legal immunity to participants in the 2024 mass protests, while setting out a mechanism to investigate allegations of serious crimes committed during the upheaval.
The legislation, titled The July Mass Uprising (Protection and Determination of Liability) Act 2026, was passed Wednesday during the 11th sitting of the first session of the 13th National Parliament.
The bill, originally issued as an ordinance by the post-uprising interim government, was tabled in the house by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair.
The law provides sweeping protections for those involved in the July-August 2024 uprising, stating that all civil and criminal cases filed against participants for their role in the movement will be withdrawn. It further bars the filing of any new cases against them in connection with the protests.
Under its provisions, complaints involving killings during the uprising may be submitted to a designated commission, which will be tasked with conducting investigations.
The law imposes restrictions on how such investigations are carried out. In cases where the victim was affiliated with a particular institution or force, the commission is barred from appointing investigators who are current or former members of that same body. "Investigators must also obtain prior approval from the commission before making arrests or taking suspects into custody.