Police plan to resurrect case over attempt to murder poet Shamsur Rahman 17 years ago

Police have decided to move the court to resurrect the case over the assassination attempt on late poet Shamsur Rahman.

Prokash Biswas, Court Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 Feb 2016, 01:50 PM
Updated : 1 Feb 2016, 01:54 PM

In January of 1999, a gang of assailants attacked him with sharp weapons in his residence at Dhaka’s Shyamoli, leaving him severely injured. It took Rahman long to recover.

The case proceedings came to a stop after the seven accused were acquitted by Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court on Feb 12, 2004 due to the absence of witnesses.  

Rahman seen as one of the major poets in Bangladesh, died in a hospital two years later, on Aug 17. 

His family filed the case at Mohammadpur Police Station saying the accused broke into their home to attack the poet, who was vocal against fundamentalism and communalism.

Militant activities in Bangladesh were not as apparent during the time of the attack as they are now. Five years later, it remained a blurred topic when writer Humayun Azad was also attacked with sharp weapons.

Rahman’s 17-year-old case came under the court police’s gaze when they were listing militants from religious groups and miscreants involved in seditious activities. 

Seven were charged at the CMM court on Jul 8, 1999 by then CID Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdul Kahhar Akhand.  

Police managed to arrest four among the seven they accused of being religious fundamentalists.

Some others were arrested but the charges against them could not be proven.

Court police official Mirash Uddin said, “The Dhaka Metropolitan Police are making a list of militants and those behind violent and seditious acts. We’re providing assistance from the prosecution wing.” 

“That is when we noticed this sensitive and high-profile case of that time.” 

It took almost three months to get the case’s information, he said.

“I personally asked Mohammadpur and Adabor police station authorities about what happened to the case. Then I found the case’s number.”

“We’ve found the register book from 2004. We’ll find the case papers soon. We’re also looking for the plaintiff.

“I’ll seek permission from the DMP commissioner to revive the case. A plea will be submitted at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court as soon as he gives permission.”

There were no legal barriers to reviving the case, said Aminul Gani Tito, a lawyer who specialises in criminal cases. 

“The court may give an order to restart the case if adequate reasons are provided in its favour,” he told bdnews24.com.