PBI to re-investigate Sifat murder involving Sheikh Hasina

The court directed the PBI to complete the investigation and submit its report by November 10.

Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Prosecution Division confirmed the matter on Tuesday (October 6). Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam issued the order after hearing a naraji (no-confidence) petition submitted by the complainant.

On May 28, Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman of Mirpur Model Station submitted a charge sheet accusing 26 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. However, the charge sheet exempted two accused, Ziaul Haq Zia and Mehedi Hasan. Sifat’s father, Kamal Howlader, filed the naraji petition in court objecting to the exemptions.

In the petition submitted on September 1, the complainant alleged that the investigating officer failed to consider crucial aspects of the case and did not even visit the crime scene. He also alleged that the charge sheet was submitted under the influence of the accused.

The court set October 5 for the hearing on the naraji petition and subsequently handed over the responsibility for further investigation to the PBI.

According to case records, Kamal Howlader filed a case against 22 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, on August 15, 2024. The court directed Mirpur Model Station to treat the complaint as a regular case. Four additional accused were included during the initial investigation.

Other key accused in the case include former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former MPs Kamal Ahmed Majumdar, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and Salauddin Mahmud (SM) Zahid, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former DB Chief Harun-or-Rashid, Additional Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, and former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman.

According to the case statement, Sifat along with other students and members of the public participated in the quota reform movement in front of MS Power in Mirpur-10 on July 20, 2024. When police opened fire, Sifat attempted to cross the road to reach safety and was shot.

The bullet pierced through one side of Sifat's head, causing him to die on the spot, the case document added.