Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday praised the fearless leadership of the July uprising for creating the opportunity to establish justice in the country.

The adviser made the comment in a status on his verified Facebook account after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court earlier in the day acquitted Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam of charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, allowing his appeal against the earlier judgment that had upheld Azhar’s conviction and death sentence initially handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1.

 


"It is now the responsibility of all of us to protect this opportunity," Asif said.

He added: "Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam was acquitted of the death sentence in the case over Liberation War-time crimes against humanity, after being proven innocent. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice, unanimously allowed his review plea against the sentence.

"Today's judgment has declared the ICT’s verdict that had sentenced Azharul to death, and the Appellate Division’s sentence that upheld the death sentence, null and void."

 

Deadlock at Secretariat continues as protests enter fourth day


Government employees continued their protests for the fourth straight day on Tuesday, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025, bringing administrative activities at the Secretariat to a halt as visitors were barred from entering.

The protest began around 11am near Building No 6 in the Badamtoli area of the Secretariat amid tightened security at all entrances.


Journalists were also barred from entering the premises. The protest continued until 12:10pm, as of the filing of this report.

The protesters, who are calling the ordinance an "unlawful black law," continued to chant slogans rejecting its legitimacy.

They urged co-workers who have not yet joined the movement to take part in the demonstration.

The protesters marched with slogans such as "The fire has been lit in our blood," "Abolish the unlawful black law," "Employees reject this illegal law," "We will not accept it," "Unite 18 lakh workers," and "No compromise, only struggle."

On Monday, the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry restricted all types of visitor entry to the Secretariat for Tuesday.

Additionally, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on rallies and gatherings in the Secretariat and adjacent areas.

The ordinance, issued by the president on Sunday evening, allows the government to dismiss employees for four types of disciplinary breaches through a show-cause notice, without initiating formal departmental proceedings.

Following the approval of the draft law by the Council of Advisers on Thursday, Secretariat employees began staging protests, calling the law unjust and unconstitutional.

On Sunday, all employee organizations at the Secretariat vowed to continue their movement until the law is withdrawn.