Sarjis demands Law Adviser's resignation for bail scandal

Sarjis Alam, Cheief Organizer (Northern Region) of Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has demanded Adviser to Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Asif Nazrul's resignation, citing systematic failures in Bangladesh's judicial system that allegedly favour wealthy Awami League-affiliated criminals whilst keeping impoverished victims behind bars. 

The NCP leader, who played a pivotal role in ousting Sheikh Hasina, raised serious questions about judicial integrity nine months after the July uprising that claimed numerous lives.

Sarjis launched his scathing attack through a Facebook post on Thursday, highlighting what he described as a two-tier justice system where money and political connections determine freedom.
 
His intervention comes as public frustration mounts over the interim government's handling of cases linked to the previous regime's alleged atrocities.

"Many murderers from the Awami League receive bail using money and political influence, whilst countless oppressed individuals wronged under Awami rule remain in jail simply because they lack money or political backing," Sarjis wrote in his social media statement. 

His remarks spotlight growing concerns about whether Bangladesh's legal system has genuinely reformed since Hasina's departure.

Sarjis specifically referenced the controversial Shapla murder cases, where he claimed "many innocent scholars from Hefazat continue to be dragged through court proceedings and remain imprisoned." 

Meanwhile, he alleged that "several notorious accused have been granted bail over the past few months-individuals who were imprisoned during the BNP era for crimes committed under BNP rule."

Sarjis's most damning accusation centred on the lack of progress in prosecuting July Movement cases, despite what he described as mass killings ordered by Hasina "in broad daylight." Nine months after the uprising, he claimed "not a single trial has been completed" and "not even one murder case has reached a verdict," raising serious questions about the interim administration's commitment to justice.

The criticism directly targets Prof Asif Nazrul, whom Sarjis questioned whether he "can truly avoid responsibility" for the judicial delays. The legal adviser now faces mounting pressure as one of the July Movement's most influential voices calls for his immediate resignation, potentially triggering broader debates about the interim government's performance.