Law minister Asaduzzaman on Thursday told Jatiya Sangsad that a total of 1,855 cases had been filed across the country over incidents of killings, enforced disappearances and torture committed during the previous ‘fascist’ regime.

Responding to a question from Anwarul Islam in the JS, the minister said that of the total cases, 799 were murder cases, while 1,056 had been filed on other charges.

The question-answer session was conducted under the chairmanship of deputy speaker Kayser Kamal.

The minister said investigations into 158 cases had been completed and charge-sheets were submitted, including 48 murder cases and 110 other cases.

Investigations into the remaining 1,697 cases are ongoing.

He said that although the large number of cases made the process complex and time-consuming, the police were working to complete investigations as quickly as possible.

‘Evidence is being collected and due legal procedures are being followed to ensure there are no weaknesses during trial,’ Asaduzzaman said.

On the issue of bail, the minister said it falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the courts.

‘However, state prosecutors are actively opposing bail petitions in each case by presenting relevant arguments,’ he said.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims and their families, stating that those responsible for killings, enforced disappearances, torture and causing permanent injury would be brought to justice.

The minister also informed JS that the government did not have specific statistics on how many cases were filed against leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami during the previous government.

Responding to a query from lawmaker Muhammad Ali Asgar, he said political affiliation was not recorded in first information reports, making it impossible to determine an accurate figure.

However, citing information from the BNP’s central office, the minister said that 142,983 cases were filed against BNP leaders and activists between 2007 and January 11, 2025.

The minister said that since assuming office, the government had withdrawn 23,865 politically motivated cases.

He said that on March 5, district-level committees, headed by district magistrates, were formed to recommend withdrawal of such cases.

Subsequently, on March 8, a six-member central committee headed by the law minister was established to review the recommendations and take necessary action.

Asaduzzaman said that the process of withdrawing remaining cases was ongoing.

Responding to a separate query from lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman Babul, the minister said there were 497 approved posts of sub-registrar, of which 115 remained vacant.

Of the vacant posts, 14 were to be filled through promotion under a 5 per cent quota, while 101 were to be filled through the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, he said.

Law minister said that steps had been taken to fill 80 posts through various BCS batches, with six candidates from the 45th BCS temporarily recommended for appointment.

In reply to a question from lawmaker Atikur Rahman Mojahid, the minister said that in the financial year 2021-22, orders were placed for 135,000 balam books, of which 100,000 were supplied, leaving 35,000 pending.

No procurement orders were issued in the following two fiscal years. In FY 2024-25, an order for 150,000 books was placed, but as of December 3, 2025, 83,235 remained undelivered.

Law minister attributed the earlier shortage to the failure of the Department of Printing and Publications to supply books as per demand, adding that the situation had been normalised, with 66,548 books currently in stock and a further 10,000 recently printed.