Dhaka: The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, seeking urgent judicial intervention against what it describes as a pattern of legal harassment and false criminal cases targeting religious minorities in the country.
In a statement issued Monday, the rights organisation said the petition aims to address the “systemic misuse” of the criminal justice system, particularly the filing of baseless First Information Reports (FIRs), which it claims are being used as tools of intimidation and dispossession against minority communities, especially Hindus.
“This is not just a legal petition—it’s a plea for justice in a system overwhelmed by over 3.9 million pending cases, where unchecked prosecutorial powers often translate into persecution,” the HRCBM said.
A focal point of the litigation is the ongoing detention of Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari, a well-known monk and social reformer.
He was arrested on sedition charges filed by a private individual—an action the HRCBM argues is legally untenable under Bangladeshi law, which allows only the state to file such charges under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Despite widespread condemnation and legal challenges, Chinmoy Krishna remains in custody, with his bail plea languishing unresolved before the Appellate Division.
The rights body claims he now faces a barrage of fabricated charges, including accusations of murder, calling his case emblematic of a broader trend.
“Is his only crime speaking truth to power and standing up for the marginalised?” the organisation questioned, adding that his situation reflects the state’s failure to uphold legal integrity and due process.
Citing findings from an internal review, the HRCBM stated it had analysed 15 criminal cases filed between October 31 and December 19, 2024.
These FIRs reportedly named over 5,700 individuals—many of them minorities—often without specific allegations.
The use of vague or unnamed suspects, it alleged, has enabled arbitrary arrests and harassment, particularly in areas such as Chittagong.
“This tactic is increasingly being exploited by police and local actors, violating constitutional safeguards and worsening the vulnerability of minority groups,” the statement said.
It warned that the trend marks a dangerous evolution of anti-minority violence in Bangladesh—from physical attacks to legal persecution.
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In its petition, the HRCBM has asked the court to mandate preliminary investigations before filing FIRs in sensitive cases, take disciplinary action against officers involved in malicious prosecutions, and appoint a judicial commission to examine the extent and pattern of false cases.
“Religious minorities in Bangladesh have endured repeated cycles of violence and displacement,” the group stated.
“The weaponisation of false criminal cases represents a more insidious and institutionalised form of abuse—one that must be addressed before it undermines the very foundations of justice.”
The High Court is yet to schedule a hearing on the PIL.
