Rumin Farhana, former leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and current Member of Parliament for Brahmanbaria-2, has voiced serious concern over the escalating law and order challenges in the country. She warned that the growing phenomenon of “lawsuit trade” is undermining public confidence in social justice and threatening the credibility of the judicial system.
Speaking as the chief guest at a reception in Islampur, Bijoynagar, Brahmanbaria on Monday, 23 March, Farhana highlighted the alarming misuse of the legal system. “Hundreds of individuals are being named as defendants in a single case, while money is being demanded both to file false cases and to remove names from existing ones. This is completely unacceptable,” she said. She stressed that while genuine offenders must be held accountable under the law, innocent citizens should never fall victim to litigation or harassment.
Farhana urged local authorities and the police to exercise rigorous scrutiny in legal matters. “We will not allow the business of lawsuits to continue unchecked in this area. Steps must be taken to ensure that false cases cannot be exploited,” she remarked.
She also expressed concern over the rising trend of “show-arrests,” where individuals are detained under new charges even after securing bail. According to Farhana, these practices undermine transparency in the justice system and instil fear among the public. “If I take revenge today while in power, tomorrow someone else will do the same. This cycle of retaliation must end if justice is to prevail,” she warned.
Farhana concluded her address by emphasising the need for a balanced approach: offenders must be punished, yet the innocent should be fully protected from harassment or arbitrary legal action.
Recent trends across various regions illustrate the patterns Farhana described:
| Issue | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| False Cases | Cases filed for personal vendettas or revenge | Innocent individuals are harassed |
| Multiple Defendants | Hundreds named in a single lawsuit | Legal processes are delayed and clogged |
| Show-Arrests | Arrests made under new cases despite bail | Social anxiety and erosion of justice |
| Case Withdrawal/Name Removal | Names removed from cases in exchange for payment | Heightened corruption and injustice |
Rumin Farhana expressed hope that the government and law enforcement agencies will take effective steps to curb the rise of false and retaliatory lawsuits, restoring public trust in the justice system. Her comments reinforce the importance of transparency, impartiality, and protection for the innocent in Bangladesh’s legal framework.