July uprising: Madrasah student shot in two locations at the same time!

A controversy has surfaced over two separate lawsuits involving Saifuddin Muhammad Emdad, a Dhaka Alia Madrasah student from Chattogram. According to the case documents, he was shot during last year's July uprising — at the same time, on the same day, in two different locations.

One case was filed by Saifuddin himself in Chattogram, while the other was lodged "on his behalf" by a former Chhatra Dal leader in Dhaka, raising questions about the credibility of the claims and possible manipulation of legal proceedings.

The Dhaka case was filed with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 20 March this year by MA Hashem Raju, former vice president of the Chhatra Dal Central Committee.

It alleges that Saifuddin sustained serious injuries, including an eye injury from gunfire, during a protest in the capital's Paribagh area around 11am on 4 August 2024, according to documents seen by TBS.

The case names 201 individuals as accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, as well as several academics, business leaders, and journalists.

However, in the lawsuit Saifuddin filed himself at Chattogram's Khulshi Police Station on 17 June 2025, he claims to have been shot at the exact same time – 11am on 4 August 2024 – but in the New Market area of Chattogram.

That case, documents of which were also seen by TBS, names 167 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, several former ministers, senior political leaders, businesspeople, and four journalists.

Saifuddin told TBS that he was in Chattogram from the end of July through August. "So there is no way I could have been shot in Dhaka on 4 August. I'm embarrassed about the case filed there," he said.

He, however, acknowledged giving "an affidavit" to MA Hashem Raju to be a witness in "another case", but denied that it involved him being shot during the July uprising.

"You should ask him on what grounds he filed that case," Saifuddin said.

When asked about the inclusion of journalists and businessmen in the Chattogram case he filed, Saifuddin declined to comment and referred to the contents of the complaint.

Meanwhile, MA Hashem Raju, the plaintiff in the Dhaka case, told TBS that he filed the case on Saifuddin's behalf after receiving "a power of attorney."

Regarding the case filed by Saifuddin in Chattogram, Raju said, "He might have fallen into the trap of a vested group that is extorting people through false cases. He didn't even consult me before filing the case there."

According to the Dhaka case narrative, Saifuddin was shot in the right eye near Hotel Intercontinental during a protest on 4 August and was later sent to Chattogram for treatment. He was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) the following day, on 5 August.

In contrast, the Chattogram case states that Saifuddin was first shot in the chest and leg in the New Market area on 4 August and treated covertly at local hospitals due to threats. 

It further alleges he was shot again in the eye and head at the Wasa intersection on 5 August, collapsing on the street and regaining consciousness later that evening in a hospital bed at CMCH.

In the Dhaka case, Saifuddin's address is listed as 26/2 Topkhana Road, whereas the Chattogram case cites his residence as Sholokbahar Al Amin Housing Society in Panchlaish.

Chattogram's Khulshi Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Aftab Hossain said, "A person cannot be injured in two cities at the same time. If the information is found to be false, appropriate legal action will be taken."

Meanwhile, Shahbagh police in Dhaka, who are investigating the case filed by MA Hashem Raju, said the probe has been delayed due to the absence of a medical certificate.

"We have contacted both the victim and the plaintiff multiple times and even sent a letter to his address, but received no response," Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Khalid Monsur told TBS.

Legal experts have described the incident as unprecedented.

"There are clear legal provisions against filing false cases and giving false testimony," said advocate Akter Kabir Chowdhury, a lawyer and general secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujon).

He pointed to Section 211 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of up to seven years' imprisonment for filing a false case, and Section 182 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which penalises providing false information to public servants.

He noted that the lawsuits seem to reflect a growing trend of "using fabricated cases to extort money" across the country. "Courts and police often face pressure to register such cases, even when they suspect the complaints lack substance," he added.