Police have recommended acquittal for rickshaw puller Azizur Rahman, who was assaulted while paying respects at Dhanmondi 32 on the anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s death.
Azizur had been arrested as a suspect in a July attempted murder case, but the investigating officer found no evidence linking him to the crime.
According to sources from the Prosecution Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, under Section 173(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the police submitted an interim or progress report to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka on October 26. The magistrate has not yet issued an acquittal order. Sub-Inspector Touhidur Rahman, the case investigation officer from Dhanmondi Police Station, confirmed the recommendation for acquittal on Thursday.
The report stated that, after verifying the initially received information and conducting further investigation, no specific or reliable evidence was found implicating Azizur Rahman in the case. The report added that, under Section 173(a), it was appropriate to grant him acquittal for the time being. If sufficient evidence emerged in the future, the police will include him as an accused when submitting the report.
The report also detailed that on August 15, Azizur went to deliver flowers at Dhanmondi Model Police Station area, number 32, Mirpur Road, when he was caught in a public beating by a group of people. The on-duty police rescued him from the crowd and took him to the station.
Information from the crowd present at the scene and sources suggested that Azizur might have been involved in a previous arms case. Police noted that his behavior at the station “did not resemble that of an ordinary rickshaw puller” and he could “be a member or source of a banned organization.”
Azizur’s bouquet carried a note stating: “August 15 National Mourning Day. Loving Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I bought these flowers with honestly earned money as an ordinary rickshaw puller. I do not belong to any party, I only love Bangabandhu.” Police said that this note had also raised suspicion.
Azizur was shown arrested on August 15, and the court sent him to jail the following day. He secured bail two days later.
According to the case allegations, on August 4 last year, in the Science Laboratory area of Dhanmondi, under the instructions of Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader, armed attacks were carried out by Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, and police personnel on students and the public. During the incident, Ariful Islam was shot and was treated in hospital for two months.
