Charges filed against 231 individuals, including former ministers, in relation to the violent events in Chittagong during July.
In a significant development, the first chargesheet has been filed in the Chattogram July uprising killing case, focusing on the murder of Shahidul Islam Shahid, a 37-year-old footwear shop employee, who was fatally shot during unrest in the Bahaddarhat area while leaving work on August 3, 2024.
The chargesheet, filed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, names a total of 231 accused, including high-profile politicians, former ministers, and leaders from affiliated organizations like Jubo League and Chhatra League. Among the key accused are former ministers Hasan Mahmud, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. Other prominent individuals charged include ex-mayors, several former MPs, AJM Nasir Uddin, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, M A Latif, and several former councillors.
The complainant, Shahid's brother Shafiqul Islam, will be present at the hearing scheduled for 25 August. The chargesheet reached the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 31 July, marking a crucial step in the legal process.
It is important to note that this is the first chargesheet filed in any of the killings linked to the Chattogram uprising. Protesters claim Shahid was shot by police, Chhatra League, and Jubo League members, while the police deny using live ammunition, stating that only tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed.
A total of 128 individuals have been listed as witnesses, and Chandgaon Police Sub-Inspector Nurul Haque submitted the chargesheet for the murder case of Shahidul Islam Shahid on Wednesday.
Separately, a related case has been filed against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and 220 other AL leaders and activists over the killing of Mahbubul Hassan Masum during the July-August mass uprising. This case specifically names 221 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, but is separate from the charge sheet filed in the Shahidul Islam murder case.
This development underscores the ongoing investigation into the violent events that transpired during the Chattogram uprising and the efforts to bring those responsible to justice. The hearings and subsequent proceedings will provide further insight into the events that led to the tragic deaths of individuals like Shahidul Islam Shahid.
In light of this development, the ongoing investigation into the violent Chattogram uprising is evident, as both general news and crime-and-justice sectors are following the filing of a chargesheet under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Politicians, including former ministers Hasan Mahmud, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, have been implicated in the case, along with leaders from affiliated organizations like Jubo League and Chhatra League. Moreover, the hearing scheduled for 25 August will present the opportunity for key witnesses, including the complainant, Shahid's brother Shafiqul Islam, to testify, marking a significant step towards achieving justice in the politics-related case.
