Families still await justice for Mahipal killings one year after July Uprising

July protest victim Srabon’s mother hopes to see justice served for her son’s death

Only one chargesheet has been filed in connection with the seven murder and 15 attempted murder cases registered at Feni Sadar Model Police Station over last year’s deadly crackdown in Mahipal during the July Uprising.

On Aug 4, 2024, just a day before the fall of the Awami League government, eight people were shot dead in Feni.

The following day, families of seven victims filed separate murder cases.

More than a year later, trial proceedings for any of the cases are yet to begin. Grieving families continue to await justice.

Feni Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman said police submitted a chargesheet to the Feni court on Jul 31 in the murder case of college student Mahbubul Hasan Masum.

The chargesheet named 221 as accused, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader.

Last year, Aug 4 had been declared a day of “total non-cooperation” as part of the anti-discrimination movement. Students and locals began gathering at Mahipal along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.

During the protests, armed members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations reportedly opened fire on the unarmed crowd.

Five students were killed on the spot. Three others succumbed to the gunshot wounds on their way to medical colleges in Dhaka and Chattogram in critical condition.

More than a hundred others, including students and journalists, were injured by gunfire.

The victims’ families continue to wait for justice.

Among them is Fatema Akter Shiuli, mother of Iftiak Ahmad Srabon. Her son was shot dead during the protests in Mahipal.

“I lost my only child in the July Uprising,” she said.

“It’s been nearly a year, and there has still been no trial. The interim government hasn’t even declared the July Charter yet. I know I will never get my son back, but I want to live to see justice served.”