Hasina, Nowfel among 34 accused in Chattogram student murder case

It marks the seventh case filed against Hasina since her ouster

A murder case has been filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel, and 32 others in connection with the death of a college student in Chattogram during the quota reform protests.

Mohammad Parvez, the uncle of the deceased student Tanvir Siddiqui, brought the charges at Chandgaon Police Station early on Saturday morning, according to the station chief Jahedul Kabir.

Those named in the case include Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury, the city Awami League's forest and environment secretary, Ward Councillor Md Esrarul Haque, Jamal Khan Ward Councillor Shaibal Das Suman, Chawkbazar Ward Councillor Nur Mustafa Tinu, and former general secretary of the city’s Chhatra League, Nurul Azim Roni.

An additional 40 to 50 unidentified people have also been accused.

According to the case statement, Tanvir, a student at Government Ashekane Awlia Degree College, participated in the “shutdown” programme of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on Aug 18.

The case alleges that during the protest in front of Bahaddarhat kitchen market, unidentified attackers hurled bricks and stones and indiscriminate gunfire was opened on the students on the “orders and directions” of Hasina and Nowfel.

Tanvir was shot and later died in the hospital.

The same incident led to the deaths of two others, including a Chattogram University student, at the same location.

This is the seventh case filed against Hasina following her ouster amid mass protests.

Five other cases have been lodged against her in Dhaka in the last four days, four of which are murder cases, while one involves abduction and torture charges.

A murder case was also filed in Bogura on Friday regarding the death of teacher Selim Hossain during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency has also begun probing Hasina and nine others on charges of murder, genocide, and crimes against humanity during the quota reform protests between Jul 15 and Aug 5.