Tofazzal lynching at DU: Court accepts supplementary chargesheet against 28; 22 now wanted

A Dhaka court has accepted a supplementary charge sheet against 28 people and issued arrest warrants against 22 absconding accused in connection with the mob lynching of a mentally unstable man Tofazzal Hossain at the University of Dhaka's Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana passed the order today (10 March) following a hearing. Sub Inspector Jinnat Ali of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the matter saying the court accepted the chargesheet and ordered the case to be transferred for trial.

The supplementary chargesheet was submitted on 18 December last year by investigation officer Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Additional Superintendent of Police Md Hannanul Islam. The court scheduled 10 March for the hearing on its acceptance.

The accused named in the chargesheet include physics student Md Jalal Mia, Suman Mia of the Soil, Water and Environment Department, Md Mottakin Sakin Shah of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, and Al Hossain Sajjad of the Geography Department. Resident students of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall who were accused include Md Ahsan Ullah alias Bipul Sheikh, Wazibul Alam, Md Firoz Kabir, Md Abdus Samad, Md Sakib Raihan, Md Yasin Ali Gain, Md Yamujjaman alias Yam, Md Fazle Rabbi, Shahriar Kabir Shovon, Md Mehedi Hasan Imran, Md Ratul Hasan, Md Sultan Mia, Md Nasir Uddin, Md Mobashwer Billah, Shishir Ahmed, Md Mohsin Uddin alias Shafi, Abdullahil Kafi, Sheikh Ramjan Ali Rocky, Md Rashed Kamal Anik, Md Moniruzzaman Sohag, Md Abu Raihan, Redowanur Rahman Parvez, Rabbikul Riad, and Md Ashraf Ali Munshi.

Md Ahsan Ullah alias Bipul Sheikh and Wazibul Alam are on bail. Md Jalal Mia, Al Hossain Sajjad, Md Mottakin Sakin Shah, and Suman Mia are in custody. The remaining 22 accused are absconding, and the court has issued arrest warrants against them.

ASP Hannanul Islam said he conducted further investigation against eight previously exempted individuals and submitted the supplementary charge sheet covering 28 people, including 21 previously identified by the former investigation officer. No additional accused were found.

Earlier, on 1 January, Shahbagh Police Inspector Asaduzzaman submitted a charge sheet against 21 individuals. A naraji petition was later filed after eight people named in confessional statements were exempted. Following the petition, the court on 26 February ordered further investigation.

According to the chargesheet, on 18 September 2024, Tofazzal entered the hall at 7:40pm. Within minutes, some students began beating him on suspicion of theft. He was taken to the main building and beaten for approximately 25 minutes. Teachers attempted to intervene but were initially unable to stop the assault. Tofazzal was then taken to the hall canteen, fed, and later beaten again. He was rescued at 10:52pm and taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.

The chargesheet states that Tofazzal was tied to a window and beaten with a stump, hockey stick, and sticks.

A case was filed at Shahbagh Police Station on 19 September 2024 by university Estate Office Supervisor Mohammad Amanullah. On 25 September, the victim's cousin Mosammat Asma Akter filed another case against 15 people, including the hall Provost Professor Shah Muhammad Masum. The court ordered both cases to be investigated together.

Earlier reports, based on WhatsApp audio recordings obtained by Prothom Alo and Netra News, allege that Saimum Reza Talukder demanded Tk1 crore from the family of former MP Fazle Karim Chowdhury to grant him bail. He reportedly also requested an advance payment of Tk10 lakh. Following the allegation, the then-chief prosecutor removed him from the case.