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Published : 18 Jul 2024, 01:24 AM
Police have attributed the deaths of Sabuj Ali and Md Shahjahan, killed in front of Dhaka College and Dhaka City College, respectively, in violent anti-quota demonstrations, to the protesters.
The inquest reports indicate that the two victims succumbed to their injuries inflicted by the anti-quota demonstrators, police said.
Sabuj, 24, a statistics student at Dhaka College, was involved with Bangladesh Chhatra League, while Shahjahan was a street hawker and day labourer at New Market.
The report on Sabuj was prepared by Sub-Inspector Mahbub Ali of New Market Police Station.
The section identifying the attackers in the report has been obscured by cuts.
It states, "Unknown students among the anti-quota protesters were shouting slogans and attacked the victim in front of Dhaka College around 4:15pm on Tuesday...”
The rest of the sentence is unreadable due to the cuts.
When asked for clarification, SI Mahbub told bdnews24.com, "The anti-quota protesters attacked the victim [Sabuj Ali], causing serious injuries.”
“He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead."
Sabuj, the son of the landless farmer Badsha Mia, from Nilphamari Sadar Upazila, was the hope of his family.
His elder brother Nurunnabi, who gave a single name, said Sabuj’s education was funded by the family. Now, they will need to bring back his corpse.
The inquest report on Shahjahan was prepared by Sub Inspector Kamaluddin Munshi.
It describes injuries including a slight swelling on the back of his head, a bandage covering a hole-like wound below his right eye, and a bleeding injury on the nose.
Citing witnesses and death certificates, SI Kamaluddin wrote, "Unknown students among the anti-quota protesters were chanting slogans and recklessly attacked the victim, thinking him to be a Chhatra League member, causing injuries to various parts of his body including his head around 5:45pm on Tuesday."
“He was initially taken to Popular Medical College Hospital and later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.”
While the police report attributes the deaths to the protesters, Shahjahan's family remains sceptical.
Shahjahan's brother Shaon, who gave a single name, said: “There is a large hole on the right side of his nose, making us suspect it was a gunshot wound.”
“The hole is big enough for a finger to pass through.”
Shahjahan’s mother Ayesha Begum said her son used to sell doormats in front of New Market.
His pregnant wife lost their child three months ago, incurring significant medical expenses that Shahjahan covered through loans, she said.
“He couldn't repay his loans, which led to him losing his spot at New Market.”
“He had been unemployed for months. Yesterday [Tuesday], he went with someone to do electrical work in a building in Dhanmondi. He was murdered after coming down for lunch,” she added.
