Order to take case against 7 people including Sheikh Hasina

The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury's court has ordered the acceptance of an affidavit in a case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, and five other senior officials. The case involves the killing of grocery shopkeeper Abu Sayeed during a protest in support of the government job quota reform movement.

The case was filed by SM Amir Hamza, a businessman, who described himself as a conscious citizen seeking justice for the murder of an innocent individual. According to the case details, Abu Sayeed was shot in the head by police during a peaceful protest on July 19 at the 40 Feet intersection in Basila, Mohammadpur, and died on the spot.

The other defendants in the case include former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Additional IGP Harun-or-Rashid, and Additional Joint Police Commissioner Biplab Kumar.

The complaint alleges that the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with Obaidul Quader and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, ordered a crackdown on the quota reform movement, which led to the police firing indiscriminately at the protestors. It further claims that the senior police officers executed the orders, resulting in Abu Sayeed’s death.

The plaintiff, Amir Hamza, stated that the victim’s family, residing in Panchagarh’s Boda Upazila, could not come to Dhaka to file the case, prompting him to take legal action on their behalf. He emphasized the need for justice and the establishment of the rule of law.

This case marks the first legal action taken against Sheikh Hasina since her resignation as Prime Minister on August 5.

The court's directive to accept the application as an affidavit sets the stage for further legal proceedings in the case. Further updates will follow as the case progresses.