Court Dismisses Case Against Sheikh Hasina and 123 Others in Keraniganj Student Protest Incident

In a significant judicial development, a Dhaka court has dismissed a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 123 others, including prominent political figures, in connection with the alleged killing of a child named Jihad during an anti-discrimination student movement in Keraniganj. The decision was issued by Senior Judicial Magistrate Tamanna on Thursday (March 19).

The case, filed by Jihad’s father, Zahidul Islam Raju, claimed that his son was killed during the July 2025 mass uprising. The police submitted their final investigation report to the court on August 11, 2025. During the investigation, authorities found that the victim was alive, and the case was subsequently considered factually incorrect.

Notable figures acquitted in the case include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Helal, former Dhaka Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun.

According to Abdul Noor, the General Registration Officer (GRO) of the court, review of the case documents, charge sheets, and the victim’s statement revealed that although the case was filed as a murder, the victim was in fact alive. Jihad himself confirmed in court that he had sustained injuries but was not killed. Based on these findings, the court accepted the police’s final report and granted acquittal to all accused.

Investigators found that the incident had been misrepresented as a killing in Keraniganj, while the actual injuries occurred elsewhere. The police report by SI Badiar Rahman of Keraniganj Model Police Station stated that the victim had been presented as deceased in exchange for residential and financial incentives, despite being alive.

The court, considering these findings, ruled the case factually inconsistent and dismissed all charges against the accused.

This verdict not only clears Sheikh Hasina and other political leaders of serious allegations but also highlights the importance of thorough investigative processes in ensuring justice and preventing misinformation in politically sensitive cases.