A murder case was filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 441 others in connection with the killing of a protester during the July 2024 mass uprising in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila.

Abu Sayeed alias Raju, son of Sekandar Ali from Harinhati village in Kaliakair, filed the case on Sunday night (July 27) at Kaliakair Police Station by. He identified himself as a fellow activist of the deceased.

The victim, 42-year-old businessman Elim Hossain, was shot dead on August 5 last year in front of the Ansar VDP Academy in Safipur during an anti-discrimination student-led demonstration. The case has been filed nearly one year after the incident.

The FIR names 42 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina; Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader; former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal; and former Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque. An additional 300 to 400 unnamed individuals have also been implicated.

According to the complaint, the killing of Elim Hossain was part of a coordinated attack allegedly carried out by Awami League activists and supporters. 

The case alleges that a total of 341 anti-discrimination protesters were killed nationwide during last year’s uprising, with Elim among them. On August 5, he reportedly joined a protest near the Safipur academy and was chanting slogans when he was shot and killed on the spot.

However, Elim’s widow, Sonia Akter, told reporters that the family had not filed any case. “Police came to our house on Sunday regarding a case. We told them we would support a case against those who fired the bullets—but we do not want anyone else to be harassed. We don’t know the person who filed the case,” she said.

Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Mannan confirmed the case, stating: “Abu Sayeed Raju filed the case as a fellow activist of the deceased. It names 42 individuals and includes 300 to 400 unidentified accused.”

SMS/