Police have arrested a 65-year-old man in connection with a case filed over the shooting and attack on anti-discrimination student movement protesters in Dhamrai on August 5, 2024.
The arrestee, Md Matiur Rahman, is a resident of Kalampur village under Sanora Union in Dhamrai.
In a report submitted to the court, police described Matiur as an active member and prominent activist of the Awami League. However, his family claims he has no involvement in politics.
His family alleged that police picked him up from his home despite his old age and poor health because his son, Zakaria Dipu, is a Jubo League leader. He was later shown arrested in a case over the shooting and injuring of a pickup van driver during the August 5, 2024 movement, although his name was not mentioned in the case statement.
According to police, Matiur was detained from his home at around 2:45am on Sunday.
In a written report submitted to the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Dhamrai police station Sub-Inspector Md Enamul Haque said the complainant in the case works as a pickup van driver and had been participating in the anti-discrimination student movement since early July 2024.
On August 5 that year, around 3pm, some 7,000 to 8,000 protesters were gathered at the Dhamrai Police Station bus stand intersection and nearby roads.
At that time, other accused, led by the 10 accused named first in the case, allegedly attacked the protesters with firearms, machetes, hockey sticks, iron pipes and sticks. They chased, beat and shot at the demonstrators.
At one point, the complainant was shot in his left leg below the knee on the paved road in front of Dhamrai Thana Road bus stand. He sustained serious injuries and was rescued by fellow protesters, who took him to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.
The report further stated that, during the investigation, information gathered from multiple sources suggested Matiur's links to different affiliated organisations of the Awami League and his active role in the anti-government movement. The investigating officer suspects that he was involved in the incident.
Police also told the court that Matiur needed to remain in custody in the interest of a fair investigation. They feared he might go into hiding or become involved in subversive activities if released on bail.
The report added that police might seek his remand for further questioning if necessary. They therefore opposed his bail and requested that he remain in jail until the investigation is completed.
Matiur's wife, Delera Begum, said: "I told the police that my husband was elderly and ill. Just 10 to 15 days ago, he suffered from dengue followed by pneumonia, and his condition was critical. He still cannot stand properly, and his body trembles. I asked where they would take such a person and requested them to speak to him there. But the police kept insisting that we open the gate.
"My son is a member of the Dhaka district Jubo League. He has been away from home since August 4, 2024, and does not maintain regular contact with us. On August 5, people also attacked our house and ransacked everything. Our home was destroyed because of our son's political affiliation. Now my husband has also been sent to jail, although he has no involvement in politics. We want justice for this oppression," she said.
When contacted, Dhamrai police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazmul Huda Khan said Matiur's son holds a senior position in the Jubo League and that his entire family is involved in Awami League politics.
"They are getting involved in criminal activities. We did not specifically go to arrest him. He has fallen under our red block," the OC said.
Asked about the family's claim that Matiur is elderly, physically unwell and has no political involvement, the OC said he had been shown arrested in an old case, considering his age and physical condition.