HC seeks list of presidential clemency over past 33 years
Staff Correspondent
The High Court on Monday (April 21) issued a rule asking the government to explain how many individuals have received presidential pardons in Bangladesh over the past 33 years.
A bench comprising Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Ainun Nahar Siddiqa issued the order following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Omar Farooq.
The court directed the Cabinet Secretary, the Home Secretary, and the Secretary of the President’s Office (Public Affairs) to respond to the rule.
The petition seeks disclosure of the number and identity of convicted individuals who were granted clemency under Article 49 of the Constitution between 1991 and July 31, 2023.
It also demands clarification of the process through which such pardons were granted, including whether recommendations or lobbying played a role.
Omar Farooq had earlier issued a legal notice on August 25 last year, requesting the list within 15 days. In the notice, he alleged that several notorious convicts—including those sentenced to death or life imprisonment—were pardoned and later emerged as powerful figures involved in criminal activities.
He argued that transparency is necessary to ensure accountability and public trust in the presidential clemency process. After receiving no response to the notice, the lawyer proceeded to file the writ petition.
