The government has decided that the cases filed over the killing of students during the July uprising will be tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Monday.

The ministry said the trials will proceed under Section 10 of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2000, while cases currently under the jurisdiction of the International Crimes Tribunal will remain outside its purview.

A special committee has also been formed to ensure efficient and coordinated prosecution of murder and other serious offences committed during the July movement, the statement added.

According to the ministry, a total of 837 cases have so far been filed across the country over the alleged killings of students and protesters during the July mass uprising, which the statement described as having been carried out “under the directives of the then Awami fascist government.”

Of these, 45 cases are already being tried before the International Crimes Tribunal. Police have submitted charge sheets in 19 murder cases across different criminal courts, which will now be transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal for trial.

To streamline the prosecution process, the Law Ministry has constituted a committee headed by an Additional Secretary of the Law and Justice Division. The committee has been tasked with collecting a comprehensive list of all cases related to killings and other serious crimes committed during the July uprising.

It will also identify obstacles affecting the prosecution process in cases where charge sheets have been filed and make necessary recommendations to the government to address those challenges.

The committee will periodically update the affected families and the general public about the progress of its activities, the Law Ministry said in the press release.