A startling revelation has emerged in Dhaka, where a murder case filed in July claiming the killing of Solaiman Selim was found to be fabricated. The complaint, lodged by Selim’s own brother, Mostofa Kamal, was part of a plot to exploit a heated anti-discrimination student protest and manipulate the legal system for personal gain.
The case alleged that Selim was shot and killed on 3 August in Jatrabari, Dhaka, and falsely identified him as Dulal, a helper in local transport. The complainant, Kamal, reportedly intended to use the court system to frame his brother and remove him from the family’s property. Investigators from the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police have now confirmed that Selim is alive and residing with his family in Mymensingh, far from the area where the alleged killing was claimed to have occurred.
The DB report reveals that Kamal, who is locally notorious as “Mosto Dakat” due to multiple criminal cases including robbery, filed a false complaint under Section 211 of the Penal Code. The police have sought court approval to file charges against him for intentionally misleading the authorities. “The complainant deliberately lodged this case to incriminate his brother,” said Malik Ahsan Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of DB’s Wari Zone.
Initially, the case named 41 individuals, including several prominent politicians, as defendants. An additional suspect was later added, taking the total number of accused to 42. The DB has recommended that all 42 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and prominent Awami League leaders, be discharged from the case due to lack of evidence and wrongful accusations.
Selim explained that the attempt to declare him dead stemmed from a land dispute. “I have no sons. My brothers want to kill me to seize our property. They filed this false case to make a real murder easier in the future,” he said, adding that he lives under constant threat and has had to leave his home.
This case has highlighted a dangerous misuse of legal processes for personal gain. The DB’s final report, to be presented in court on 21 December, confirms that Selim is alive, the original complaint was falsified, and the family feud was exploited during the student protest. Legal experts have noted that the case demonstrates how political unrest can be opportunistically used in personal vendettas, with serious implications for the justice system.