July Uprising: Three reasons given for actor Iresh Zaker’s exemption from case

A petition has been filed seeking the discharge of actor Iresh Zaker from the murder case of BNP activist Mahfuz Alam Sraban, who was killed during the July Uprising.

On Oct 9, the investigating officer, Inspector Sajjad Roman of Mirpur Model Police Station, submitted an interim report to the court seeking Iresh to be dropped from the case.

The report also seeks the dropping of Ikram Mayeen, managing director of Forethought PR, an associate company of advertising and brand communication group Asiatic 3sixty, of which Iresh serves as managing director, from the case.

“In the initial investigation, no evidence was found to link Iresh Zaker and Ikram Mayeen to the incident,” Roman said.

“That is why they have been discharged from the case. Later, if evidence is found against them, we will submit a fresh report.”

According to the case dossier, on Aug 5, 2024, the day the Awami League government fell, a student procession was marching between the Mirpur Shopping Complex and Mirpur Model Police Station when Awami League leaders and activists allegedly attacked it.

During the clash, BNP activist Mahfuz Alam Sraban was injured by gunfire. He was taken to a nearby hospital by rickshaw, where doctors declared him dead.

Sraban’s brother, Mostafizur Rahman Bappi, filed the case on Mar 27, 2024, in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman.

The court instructed the chief of Mirpur Model Police Station to record the complaint as a regular case after taking the plaintiff’s statement.

Among the 407 accused are ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former ministers and MPs, two former mayors of Dhaka, journalists, businessmen, election commissioners, and lawyers. Iresh and Mayeen were also among those initially charged.

As criticism mounted over the inclusion of hundreds of names in multiple cases tied to the July Movement, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki called the charges against Iresh “annoying”.

Farooki, who said he knows Iresh personally and that both were involved in the July Uprising, expressed confidence that police would conduct a proper investigation.

In the interim report, the investigating officer cited three reasons for seeking the acquittal of Iresh and Mayeen: no witness or specific evidence placed them at the scene around 2:30pm on Aug 5, 2024; no still images or video footage showed their presence; and no documentary evidence linked them to the shooting.

The report added that if any documentary or factual evidence emerges in the future, legal action would be taken “as per the rules”.

“I live in Naogaon,” said Mostafizur, the plaintiff.

“My brother lived in Mirpur, Dhaka. He was studying and working at a company. He was shot dead on Aug 5, 2024.”

“I went from Naogaon to Dhaka to file the case. I was not at the scene. I filed the case based on information from well-wishers,” he said.

He acknowledged the large number of accused in the case.

“There are 407 people accused. I have accused only those who are associated with the Awami League. It is not possible to remember all the names,” he said.

“And out of the 400 accused, 10 may not have been involved. The law-enforcing agencies and the court will look into the matter. I want justice for the murder of my brother. However, no innocent person should be harassed.”