Two cases have been filed at Chittagong’s Kotwali Police Station against 126 people, including former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, for their alleged involvement in the killing of two students during last year’s July uprising. Businessman Abdul Motaleb, father of victim Kausar Mahmud, filed one of the cases on Tuesday, July 1. Kausar, a BGC Trust University student, was shot on August 4 at New Market Roundabout during anti-discrimination protests and died on October 13 while receiving treatment at Dhaka CMH. Motaleb stated that he filed the case after consulting with others due to the time elapsed since his son’s death.
The case includes 91 individuals, such as former ministers Hasan Mahmud, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, and Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, former MPs ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury and Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari, and former mayors AJM Nasir Uddin and Rezaul Karim. However, inconsistencies have emerged, as two of the accused – Debashish Guha Bulbul and Amal Mitra – are deceased. Bulbul, the Liberation War Affairs Secretary of Chittagong Metropolitan Awami League, died of COVID-19 in 2020, while Amal Mitra passed away in May 2023.
Additionally, the case statement reportedly names several individuals twice, including leaders from the Awami League’s city committee and affiliated student and volunteer wings.
A second case was filed by Sahab Uddin, whose son Nizam Uddin, a 21-year-old madrasa student, was shot dead on August 5 in Laldighi Par. This case names 35 Awami League leaders and activists as accused.
Kotwali Police Station OC Abdul Karim confirmed the filing of both cases and stated that if any deceased or innocent individuals are named, investigations will ensure their removal from the accused list. The cases highlight continuing legal and political fallout from the July uprising, which saw widespread protests against discrimination and governance issues across Bangladesh.
