Murder case against Hasina: Probe report submission date January 8

A Dhaka court has set January 8, 2025, as the deadline for the police to submit the investigation report in the case filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others over the death of grocery shop owner Abu Said during police firing in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area on July 19.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Arifur Rahman passed this order after Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Md Moktaruzzaman, the investigation officer (IO), failed to submit the report on Tuesday.

This is the second time the court has extended the deadline. On November 9, another Dhaka court had asked the police to submit the probe report by December 10.

The accused in the case include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former DB chief Harun Or Rashid, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, and former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker.

The case was filed on August 13 by SM Amir Hamza Shatil, a resident of Mohammadpur, with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury.

Following the filing, the court recorded Shatil's statement and instructed Mohammadpur Police Station to register the complaint as a First Information Report (FIR).

On July 19, Abu Said was killed in police firing during a procession in support of the quota reform movement at Bosila.

Amir, who is not related to the victim, stated that he filed the case voluntarily, noting that Saidd's impoverished family in Boda upazila of Panchagarh lacked the means to seek legal recourse.

This is the first case filed against Sheikh Hasina since she resigned and left for India amid the uprising on August 5.

Hasina is now facing 234 cases, including 203 for murder, 16 for crimes against humanity and genocide, as well as other charges for abduction, attempted murder, and attacks on opposition processions.

Several individuals, including former social welfare minister Dipu Moni and former deputy sports minister Arif Khan Joy, have been arrested and placed on remand in connection with the case.