167, including Hasina, top AL leaders, sued in attempt to murder case in Ctg 11 months after July Uprising

Nearly eleven months after the July Uprising, an attempt to murder case has been filed in Chattogram against 167 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several top leaders of the ousted Awami League government.

Among the accused are prominent businessmen and journalists from Chattogram, along with high-profile political leaders. 

However, the 11-month delay in filing the complaint has raised questions over the authenticity of the allegations and the plaintiff's intention.

The case was filed late on Tuesday (17 June) at Khulshi Police Station by Saifuddin Muhammad Emdad, a student of Dhaka Alia Madrasa.

According to the complaint, Emdad was an Alim-level student at the time of the July Uprising and is originally from Kachiyapara village in Sandwip upazila, Chattogram. 

The complaint alleges that Saifuddin participated in a student-public protest at the New Market intersection in Chattogram city on 4 August. 

During the protest, armed members of the now-banned Chhatra League and Jubo League opened fire on the demonstrators, leaving Emdad seriously injured. 

He sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and, while breaking curfew to join a procession in Badurtala the following day, was attacked again by the same group, sustaining multiple pellet injuries to his face, eyes, and body.

According to the complaint, Saifuddin was first taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), then to the private Chevron Hospital, followed by the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) in Dhaka, and finally to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). 

Despite prolonged treatment, he has permanently lost vision in his right eye and is now experiencing significant vision loss in his left eye as well.

Saifuddin claimed his name was officially listed under government circular No 202 as a "July Warrior," a title referencing participants in the student protests.

Confirming the filing of the case, Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Aftab Hossain said, "A new case related to the July Uprising was filed on 17 June. A total of 167 individuals have been named as accused. We will proceed with a thorough investigation. No innocent person will be harassed if wrongfully included in the complaint."

Besides Hasina, the list of accused includes high-profile political figures, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, ex-MP MA Motaleb, and religious leader Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari.

Former Chattogram City Corporation mayors Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and M Manzur Alam, along with former councillors Jahar Lal Hazari, Shaibal Das Suman, and Bijoy Kishan Chowdhury, have also been named in the list of accused.

The case also includes several industrialists as accused, including AK Azad, chairman of Ha-Meem Group and former member of parliament (MP); Sufi Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, chairman of PHP Group, and his son Amir Hossain Sohel; Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury; Akhtar Parvez Chowdhury; former FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam and his daughter Raisa Mahbub; and Almas Shimul, managing director of GPH Ispat Limited.

Four journalists, Rafiqul Bahar, former residential editor of Ekushey Television; Hamid Ullah, bureau chief of Dainik Amader Shomoy; senior reporter Md Mohiuddin of the same newspaper; and Masudul Haque, bureau chief of DBC Television, have also been named in the case. 

The complaint, however, does not mention their identities as journalists.

In addition, Jatiya Party leader Solaiman Alam Seth has also been accused. The remaining accused are leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations.