PBI to probe case against Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Saima among 21

A Dhaka court has ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the case filed against 21 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over the alleged shooting and killing of a fruit vendor in the capital’s Jatrabari during the recent Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shakil Ahmmed’s court passed the order on Tuesday (August 20).

Md Sultan Sheikh, father of the deceased Md Farid Sheikh, filed the case.

Awami League leaders Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan, Hasan Mahmud, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and former Detective Branch chief Harunor Rashid were among the accused.

Additionally, 250 unidentified individuals were also made accused in the case.

According to the case statement, on August 4, during the intense student and public movement demanding Hasina’s resignation, Farid Sheikh was severely injured by police gunfire while on his way to his fruit shop via the road on the south side of the toll plaza of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover at around 3:30pm. 

Risking their life, nearby people took an initiative to transport him to Mugda Medical College Hospital for treatment, where he later passed away on August 6 while receiving treatment.