Court accepts charge sheet against 231 including three ex-ministers

A Chattogram court has accepted the charge sheet against 231 people, including former Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, and former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, in the case filed over the murder of Shahidul Islam Shahid during the anti-discrimination student movement.

Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafa passed the order on Thursday (September 25) after a hearing.

Shahidul, an auto-rickshaw driver, was shot during clashes between ruling party activists and movement protesters at Bahaddarhat on August 3, 2024, and later died in hospital. His brother Shafiqul Islam filed the case after the fall of the Awami League government.

The court rejected the plaintiff’s objection petition and accepted the charge sheet under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Police confirmed that 84 people have already been shown arrested in the case. A total of 128 witnesses have been listed, including 28 civilians, 99 police personnel, and a doctor.

Key accused also include former Chattogram mayors Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and A J M Nasir Uddin, several ex-MPs, and top leaders of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.

Police said this is the “first charge sheet” among the cases filed in connection with the July–August movement in Chattogram.