Nearly 2000 Case Files Disappear from Chattogram Court

Local Correspondent

Nearly 2,000 critical case dockets, including those involving murder, drugs, smuggling, and explosions, have gone missing from the Chattogram court.

On Sunday, Chattogram Metropolitan Public Prosecutor (PP) Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan filed a general diary (GD) with Kotwali Police Station, reporting the disappearance of 1,911 files stored in plastic sacks outside the PP office due to space constraints.

The missing files are crucial for judicial proceedings, making it challenging to prove offenses without them, according to legal experts.

The GD stated that between April 2023 and December 2024, files from 28-30 courts were stored in the PP office’s veranda. The files were discovered missing during a year-end inventory conducted after the office was closed between December 13 and 31.

PP Bhuiyan, who recently assumed office, said the files were moved to the veranda due to insufficient storage space. “I had requested an additional room, but it was not provided,” he said.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Karim confirmed that police have started an investigation into the missing files.

A senior lawyer, requesting anonymity, alleged that the files were deliberately removed, drawing parallels to previous incidents where sensitive documents had mysteriously disappeared or been destroyed. He urged authorities to review nearby CCTV footage for clues.

The Chattogram District Bar Association President, Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, emphasized the significance of the missing case dockets. “These documents are critical for judicial processes, especially for tracing the investigation timeline and aiding testimony even years later,” he said.

The missing files have raised questions about court security, as the PP office is located on the third floor of the court building near judges’ chambers and courtrooms. While the area is busy during the day, it is expected to be heavily guarded at night.

Lawyers expressed shock and demanded a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and prevent any misuse of the missing documents.