10 July Smrity Foundation officials face charges over alleged assault during interrogation

A case has been filed against 13 people, including 10 officials of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, for allegedly assaulting a man and his wife in the organisation’s office under the pretext of interrogation.

Sabina Yasmin, wife of injured protester Bulbul Sikder, started the case in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana on Tuesday, bdnews24.com reports. 

Plaintiff’s lawyer Iltutmish Saudagar said the court recorded Sabina’s statement and ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the complaint.

The suspects are the foundation’s Senior Verification Officer Iftekhar Hossain, Executive Member Sabrina Afroz Sabonti, and officers Sagar, Mehedi Hasan Prince, Afzalur Rahman Sayem, Saidur Rahman Shahid, Alif, Zahid, Fatema Afrin Payel, and Reza Tanvir.

The case alleges that on Jul 19, 2024, during the July movement, police and ruling party supporters opened fire on protesters at Madani Nagar Madrasa on Chittagong Road, injuring Bulbul and his son.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Bulbul’s wife Sabina visited the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation office in Dhaka on Mar 20 to verify their injuries.

She claims officials, including Iftekhar, detained and assaulted them, accusing them of being “fake July warriors”.

Sabina says her bag and phone were seized, and her husband was beaten, causing him mental trauma. The case was filed after his partial recovery.