Cases undermining achievements of student movement: Sara Hossain

Lawyer and rights activist Barrister Sara Hossain has expressed concerns over the lawsuits being filed against ministers and lawmakers following the ouster of the Awami League government.

While speaking at a citizen dialogue in Dhaka today (24 August), she stated that these cases are undermining the achievements of the student movement. 

She also warned that these cases are unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny and may not proceed beyond the initial stages. 

Civil Reform Group-Bangladesh 2.0 hosted the dialogue titled ‘Interception, Right to Privacy, and Freedom of Speech’ at the office of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) in Karwan Bazar. 

Sara Hossain, honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), criticised the manner in which the cases have been filed. 

She noted that various types of cases have been filed in the past two weeks, with some involving 30, 40, or even 50 accused individuals.

“The people might have genuine anger and frustration, but filing cases this way will not work out eventually. Those will not sustain and may even fail to go beyond the initial stages. Instead, they are raising questions about the movement and its outcomes,” she said.  

Hossain also questioned the integrity of the police officers involved in filing the cases. 

Questioning the integrity of the policemen, Sara Hossain said, “Did the police file these cases? Did they do it honestly? With a clear understanding? Case statement is not a place to vent one’s anger.”