Charge sheets filed against 63, including Sheikh Hasina, in two Jatrabari cases

Police have submitted charge sheets against 63 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in two separate cases filed over murder and attempted murder in the capital’s Jatrabari area during the July Uprising.

Investigators have also recommended the discharge of 105 people after finding no evidence of their involvement in the offences.

Sub-Inspector Mohin Uddin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution division confirmed the development, saying two sub-inspectors of Jatrabari Police Station separately submitted the charge sheets to the court. Hearings on whether to accept the charge sheets are scheduled to be held soon.

Nadim attempted murder case

In the attempted murder case filed with Jatrabari Police Station, Investigation Officer Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Khalil submitted a charge sheet against 30 people, including Sheikh Hasina, on 27 July. He also recommended the discharge of 66 people for lack of evidence.

Other accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former food minister Advocate Kamrul Islam, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Dhaka DB chief Harun Or Rashid, former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker and former Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain.

A hearing on whether to accept the charge sheet is scheduled for 19 September.

According to the case statement, Tolaram College student Nadim joined the anti-discrimination movement at Rayerbagh bus stand in Jatrabari on 19 July 2024.

At the time, protesters came under attack and gunfire broke out. Nadim was shot in the left knee, with the bullet passing through.

He recovered after receiving treatment. Nadim filed the case against Sheikh Hasina and 93 others on 6 October 2024.

Babul Mridha murder case

In the murder case over the death of construction worker Md Babul Mridha during the July Movement, Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector Mahmudul Hasan Irfan submitted a charge sheet against 33 people, including Sheikh Hasina, on 13 August.

The investigator also recommended the discharge of 39 people after finding no evidence of their involvement.

The accused include former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former law minister Anisul Huq, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Jatrabari-5 lawmaker Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, former Patuakhali-3 lawmaker SM Shahzada, former Pirojpur-2 lawmaker Mohiuddin Maharaj, former Barishal-4 lawmaker Pankaj Nath and former Barishal City Corporation mayor Sadiq Abdullah.

Others include former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Dhaka South unit Swechhasebak League president Kamrul Hasan Ripon, former Jatrabari thana Awami League general secretary Harunur Rashid Munna, former Bhandaria upazila parishad chairman Mirazul Islam Miraz and former Dhaka South unit Chhatra League general secretary Sajal Kundu.

A hearing on whether to accept the charge sheet is scheduled for Monday, said Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin Chowdhury of the DMP prosecution division.

According to the case statement, Babul Mridha left home on 19 July 2024 to look for his son Abu Taleb, who had joined the anti-discrimination student movement in the Dania and Lucky Community Centre areas of Jatrabari.

He was shot after reaching the Lucky Community Centre area. Locals rescued him and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he received treatment for around a month.

He was later transferred to BGB Hospital and subsequently moved to Combined Military Hospital on 22 August. Babul Mridha died while undergoing treatment at CMH on 9 September 2024, 52 days after being shot. His wife, Seema Begum, filed the murder case with Jatrabari Police Station on 19 November 2024.