Police Urge Dropping Fake July Murder Case Against Sheikh Hasina

Police have recommended dropping murder charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 83 others after investigations revealed that a case linked to the July Uprising was entirely fabricated.

Sub-Inspector Shahadat Hossain of the Mohammadpur Police Station submitted the final investigation report to the court on April 27. The report explicitly stated that the complainant, Mohammad Sumon, admitted to filing the case under "financial inducements and pressure from certain individuals."

Consequently, police have urged the court to take legal action against Sumon for filing a false complaint rather than pursuing the named suspects.

A Baseless Accusation

The case, lodged on February 14, 2025, alleged that Sumon’s wife—identified only as ‘Fatema’—was shot dead on August 4, 2024, during the student-led protests in Mohammadpur. The accused included senior Awami League figures such as Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, Nasrul Hamid Bipu, and several former top police officials.

Investigators found absolutely zero evidence supporting the claim. Sumon could not provide hospital records, a death certificate, or proof of burial. Furthermore, checked at a specified Ashulia graveyard confirmed no such burial occurred.

While 23 protest-related deaths were recorded in Mohammadpur, police confirmed none were female.

According to the police report, Sumon later confessed he did not personally know a ‘Fatema’ and was unaware of the identities of the people he was accusing when he was persuaded to file the case. Realizing the severe legal implications, he attempted to withdraw the complaint but was allegedly threatened by those who orchestrated it. He has since gone into hiding and remains untraceable by law enforcement.

Although seven individuals were initially arrested during the preliminary phase—including Kamrul Islam and Abdul Mukit Majumder—police are now formally seeking the discharge of all 84 accused.

Following a hearing on May 11, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamsed Alam scheduled the next proceeding for June 24.

Lawyer Mostafa Al Mamun, representing one of the accused, strongly criticized the trend of politically motivated lawsuits. "We do not want this. No one should be harassed unnecessarily. Such cases should not happen again," he stated.