A police investigation has found no evidence that a man who claimed to have sustained nine bullet wounds during the July 2024 uprising was injured, raising serious questions over a murder attempt case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 75 others.
The investigation found that the medical documents submitted by complainant Nur Hossain, 27, were allegedly fabricated and did not originate from Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, where he claimed to have received treatment.
Following the investigation, police recommended that Sheikh Hasina and 83 other accused be discharged from the case. Investigating officer and Mohammadpur Police Station Sub-Inspector Ukyamang Rakhine submitted the final report to a Dhaka court on September 29.
“The complainant filed the case using a fake medical certificate. We have submitted a report recommending the accused be discharged,” Rakhine told bdnews24.com.
He clarified that none of the accused had initially been arrested in connection with this particular case. Eight individuals were already in custody in other cases and were subsequently shown arrested in this case following court approval.
Asked whether any action had been taken against the complainant, the investigating officer said police had not initiated any such proceedings, adding that the court could decide whether further action was warranted.
Investigation questions authenticity of medical records
According to the investigation report, Nur Hossain had claimed that he received emergency treatment at Bangladesh Medical College Hospital after being shot during the July uprising.
However, investigators found no record of him receiving treatment from any doctor at the hospital.
The report identified discrepancies in the submitted documents. Investigators said the hospital’s emergency prescriptions were handwritten by doctors rather than computer-typed, as was the case with the documents submitted by the complainant.
They also found that the cash memo number mentioned in his documents belonged to a 54-year-old patient named Abdus Sattar, while the identification number corresponded to another patient, a 32-year-old man named Jewel.
Investigators further found that Nur Hossain’s name was absent from the official government gazette listing those injured during the July 2024 uprising.
Based on these findings, police concluded that there was no evidence he had sustained the alleged injuries and that the incident described in the complaint appeared to have been fabricated.
The final report stated that the allegations were prima facie found to be false based on the investigation, available evidence and surrounding circumstances.
Court issues notice to complainant
The investigation report was presented before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ashraful Haque’s court last Wednesday.
Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman of the prosecution department said the court had reviewed the final report and ordered a notice to be issued to the complainant.
The next hearing has been scheduled for December 1.
Among those recommended for discharge are Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Presidium Member Shajahan Khan, banned Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Dhaka North unit president Riaz Mahmud, former vice-president Salim Ullah Patwari, former Dhaka North City Corporation Ward 29 councillor Salimullah Sulu, Milon Hossain, and Mahila League leaders Israt Jahan Tamanna and Swapna Khandaker.
Lawyers raise concerns over alleged case manipulation
Lawyer AHM Hasibuzzaman Hasib, representing accused Milon Hossain, said similar cases had been filed at different times, allegedly to exert political pressure or secure personal gains.
He said many people had reportedly faced harassment and imprisonment despite having no involvement in the alleged incidents.
“We supported the July movement and want justice for the crimes committed during it. But only those actually involved should be brought to justice. It is unacceptable for innocent people to suffer harassment and imprisonment,” he said.
Lawyer Jannatul Barna Sumi, whose vakalatnama (legal authorisation) was used in filing the case, acknowledged that some lawyers had been involved in what she described as the commercialisation of cases related to the July uprising.
She said clients sometimes withheld the truth from their lawyers, adding that she had not been involved in any such activities.
What the original case alleged
In the complaint, Nur Hossain claimed that he joined the anti-government movement near Mayur Villa, adjacent to Mohammadpur bus stand, between 3pm and 3:30pm on August 4, 2024.
He alleged that police and others attacked protesters with batons and gunfire, leaving him with six bullet wounds in his back, two above his left knee and one beside his right knee.
He further claimed that he fell to the ground after being shot and that the accused threw bricks and other objects at him. He was subsequently rescued and taken to hospital, where he received initial treatment.
According to the complaint, hospital authorities later refused to provide further treatment out of fear of the accused.
On December 1, 2024, Nur Hossain filed a case accusing Sheikh Hasina and 75 others of attempted murder over the alleged attack.
The police investigation has now cast serious doubt on the central claims underpinning the case, although the final report remains subject to the court’s consideration.
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