Comprehensive investigations needed prior to filing cases

The origin of law, courts, and cases is to maintain law and order in society and the state. However, under the influence of powerful individuals and the negligence of law enforcement agencies, innocent and harmless individuals can sometimes become victims of harassment. A recent example is the attempted murder case against prominent Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist ZI Khan Panna. As reported by the media on Monday (October 21), during the anti-discrimination student movement, senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna, who represented the students in court, has been named as an accused in an attempted murder case. The case was filed on October 17 at the Khilgaon police station in the capital, and it mentions a total of 180 accused, with ZI Khan Panna listed as number 94.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Khilgaon police station, Md. Daud Hossain, stated that this case was accepted without any preliminary investigation. He informed the media last night that the case was registered based on the complainant's allegations. It was checked whether the names and addresses of the accused were correct, but it has not been investigated whether the accused are involved in the incident. He mentioned that if someone is found not involved during the investigation, their name will be removed.

Md. Baker filed a case at Khilgaon police station against ZI Khan Panna and 180 others for allegedly attempting to murder his son, Ahadul Islam. The case against ZI Khan Panna alleges that on July 19, during the quota reform movement for government jobs, Ahadul Islam was shot and assaulted in an attempt on his life. Almost three months after the incident, on October 17, Md. Baker registered the case at Khilgaon police station.

Following the case against this prominent Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist, there has been widespread criticism across the country. ZI Khan Panna, the chairperson of the human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), is known as an honest individual. He has been vocal against human rights violations during the Awami League government's tenure and has taken a stand against various laws that infringe upon human rights and freedom of expression, including the Digital Security Act.

Moreover, it is surprising that the complainant, Md. Baker, stated to the media on Monday morning that he does not know ZI Khan Panna. He filed the case after discussing with lawyers from the BNP and Jamaat. The police have assisted him in this matter. It is now easy to infer how much carelessness the police exhibit before accepting a case!

ZI Khan Panna has expressed deep regret for being harassed in such a baseless case. Following severe criticism, a bench of the High Court granted him bail in this case until the police report is submitted. According to Khilgaon police station's OC, Md. Daud, the complainant, Md. Baker, came to the station on Monday at noon to request that Panna be removed from the case.

Given this situation, the police's negligence and carelessness are clearly evident. Before accepting a case, the police should conduct a more thorough investigation. We want the police to be more cautious and responsible when accepting such cases. Otherwise, instead of bringing genuine offenders to justice, innocent individuals may face repercussions. One of the interim government's key responsibilities is to bring to justice those who perpetrated indiscriminate killings during the mass uprisings. If innocent individuals are harassed in any way, public trust in this government will diminish.