Charges Filed Over Mohammadpur Shooting Case

A police investigation into an incident during the July protest movement in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area has led to the submission of a charge sheet implicating former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 39 others. The case relates to the alleged shooting and serious injury of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Sheikh Mohammad Ashik.

According to court documents, the original case was filed naming 129 individuals, alongside between 100 and 150 unidentified persons. Following an extensive investigation, police have concluded that evidence was insufficient to proceed against 127 of the named suspects, and have therefore recommended their discharge from the proceedings.

The charge sheet was submitted to the court on 20 April by Mohammadpur Police Station Sub-Inspector Ferdous Zaman, who served as the investigating officer. He stated that while many accused persons were found not to have credible links to the incident, initial evidence suggested the involvement of 40 individuals either directly or indirectly.

The investigation report alleges that the events were not isolated, but rather coordinated, claiming that directives originated from senior political figures, including Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Jahangir Kabir Nanak. It further states that local-level actors allegedly acted in alignment with these instructions during the operation to disperse protesters.

Background of the Incident

The case concerns events that allegedly took place on 19 July 2024 at around 9:00 a.m. in the Mayur Villa area adjacent to the Mohammadpur bus stand. Protesters had reportedly gathered and maintained a sit-in programme. By early afternoon, tensions escalated significantly, culminating in alleged baton charges and gunfire at approximately 2:45 p.m.

During the incident, Sheikh Mohammad Ashik sustained critical injuries from gunfire. The complaint states that he collapsed on the road and was left unattended by those involved, who allegedly assumed he had died.

Following his recovery or subsequent developments, Ashik’s family filed a formal complaint with Mohammadpur Police Station on 28 September, initiating the legal proceedings that eventually led to the present charge sheet.

Summary of Key Accused and Status

Investigating officer Ferdous Zaman noted that a significant number of accused individuals were not found to be present in Mohammadpur at the time of the incident, leading to their exclusion from prosecution recommendations. However, he confirmed that sufficient preliminary evidence existed to formally include 40 individuals in the charge sheet.

With the submission now complete, the next stage will depend on judicial proceedings. The court is expected to review the charge sheet and determine whether to formally accept it, paving the way for the commencement of trial proceedings.