Dhaka: Police today submitted a charge sheet against 221 leaders and activists of the Awami League (AL), including its chief Sheikh Hasina, over the killing of Mahbubul Hassan Masum during last year’s July-August mass uprising. Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain of Feni Model Thana, who is also the Investigation Officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate of Feni Jabed Akhter.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md Habibur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Feni, disclosed the information at a press briefing at his office. The SP explained that the AL leaders and activists, during the anti-government movement on August 4 last year, attacked anti-discrimination students at the Mohipal area on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. At least 11 people, including Masum, died on the spot, and many others were injured during the attack.
Mahmudul Hassan, the brother of the deceased, initially filed a case with Feni Model Thana accusing 162 people. However, police investigations revealed the involvement of 221 people in the attack. The SP stated that they found direct involvement of 156 out of the 162 initially accused, along with an additional 62 individuals implicated in the killing.
Prominent figures accused in the case include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former member of parliament from Feni-2 constituency and general secretary of Feni district AL Nizam Uddin Hazari, former Jatiya Party lawmaker from Feni-2 constituency Lt Gen (Rtd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, general secretary of Feni Sadar Upazila AL Susen Chandra Shil, and general secretary of Feni Poura AL Nazrul Islam Swapon Miazi.
The police have so far arrested 51 accused individuals, with three having given confessional statements before the court. Additionally, police have recovered some arms and ammunition linked to the killings. The SP emphasized that any innocent individuals initially accused were removed from the charge sheet, asserting that political considerations did not influence the charge sheet’s contents.
The SP also noted that a total of seven murder cases and 15 attempted murder cases were filed regarding the mass killing on August 4, with a total of 2,199 people accused. Over 1,000 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with these cases, and 11 accused have already provided confessional statements to the courts.