In 1998, Azhar Ali Raza was arrested in a murder case and sentenced to death. The High Court, however, acquitted him in 2012 and the Appellate Division retained the order in 2012. He was supposed to be freed right after the order was given but wasn't because the order did not reach Dinajpur jail for six years.

Raza lost a huge chunk of his life and at least six because of sheer negligence by the authorities. He can't have those lost days back, but the government can at least compensate him for his loss and to help him begin anew.

Tapas Pal, By e-mail