A Dhaka court has granted remand for Dr Dipu Moni, a joint general secretary of the Awami League and former minister, and Arif Khan Joy, a former deputy minister for sports, in connection with the killing of a grocer, Abu Sayed, during a protest in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
Dipu Moni has been remanded for four days, while Arif Khan Joy will be held for five days.
The remand order was issued by Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sultan Sohag Uddin following a request by the investigating officer, Mohammadpur police station Inspector Tofazzal Hossain, who sought a 10-day remand for the accused to ensure a thorough investigation on Tuesday (20 August).
The case stems from an application filed on 13 August by SM Amir Hamza in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Choudhury, who subsequently directed the Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur Police Station to treat the complaint as a First Information Report (FIR).
Hamza, a businessman, stated that he lodged the case as a responsible citizen seeking justice for the killing of an innocent civilian.
The other accused in the case include Obaidul Quader, the former minister for transport and bridges, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the former minister for home affairs, former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional Commissioner Harun-ur-Rashid, and former Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar.
According to the charges, the anti-discrimination movement led by students has seen widespread peaceful protests across the country, demanding reforms in government job quotas. The protests were met with indiscriminate police firing in various locations, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. On 19 July, a peaceful march in the 40 Feet area of Bashila, Mohammadpur, was also fired upon by police. Abu Sayed, a local grocer, was shot in the head while crossing the street and died instantly.
The lawsuit further details that Abu Sayed was buried in the village of Naya Basti in the Boda Upazila of Panchagarh district. His family, including his mother, wife, and son, reside there and are unable to pursue the case in Dhaka, prompting Hamza to file the complaint driven by a sense of moral responsibility and a desire to uphold the rule of law.
The plaintiff also alleges that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had repeatedly instructed authorities to suppress the quota reform movement with a heavy hand. Under the orders of Obaidul Quader and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, directed their subordinates to open fire on the protesters, leading to what the plaintiff describes as a premeditated murder. He argues that those responsible must be brought to justice.
Abu Sayed was killed by police gunfire during the protest in support of the quota reform movement at approximately 4 p.m. on 19 July in the Bashila area of Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
