Police for acquittal of Hasina, 104 others in Bogura

Police have submitted a final report recommending the acquittal of 104 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case over the alleged shooting death of butcher Ripon Fakir during the anti-discrimination student movement in Bogra in August 2024.

The latest investigating officer, SI Ferdous Ali of the District Detective Branch (DB) Police, recently submitted the report to the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. The court will hold a hearing on August 10 to receive the final report.

SI Ferdous Ali said the case complaint claimed that Ripon Fakir was killed by a bullet. However, the autopsy report found no injury or gunshot mark on his body.

He said several witnesses, including Ripon's wife Mabiya Begum and brother, told investigators that Ripon became sick and died after bread became stuck in his throat. The same information was also reported by several media outlets at the time.

Based on the available evidence and witness statements, police recommended the acquittal of the accused, SI Ferdous Ali said. He added that senior police officials have also been informed.

Advocate Abdul Bashed, vice-president of Bogra District BNP, public prosecutor of the District and Sessions Judge's Court and president of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum's Bogra unit, said he had been informed about the final report. He said the plaintiff's opinion would now be taken. If the plaintiff objects, a complaint can be filed with the court.

According to case documents, Ripon Fakir's wife Mabiya Begum filed the case at Bogra Sadar Police Station on September 17, alleging that he was shot dead while taking part in an anti-discrimination movement procession in the Jhautala area of Bogra city on August 4, 2024.

The case named 404 people, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun. Of them, 104 were named as accused.

After the case was filed, however, Ripon's wife and brother told journalists that he had not been shot during the movement.

They said he died after choking while eating bread. They also claimed that two unidentified people had made them sign some papers by promising government assistance and recognition as a martyr.

Following a court order, Ripon's body was exhumed from his grave 112 days after his death, on November 24, 2024, for an autopsy. The body was later reburied with religious rites.

Three police officers worked on the investigation, while statements from 22 witnesses were recorded.

The forensic department of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital conducted the autopsy and, in its report dated March 20, 2025, said no signs of injury were found on Ripon's body.

The investigation also found that Ripon's name had initially appeared on the list of martyrs of the anti-discrimination student movement, but it was not included in the final gazette.

His family, however, received financial assistance from several political parties and Tk 50,000 as a grant from the district administration.