Police have recommended to drop the murder charge against actor Iresh Zaker and Ikram Moin Chowdhury, managing director of Forethought PR (a concern of Asiatic), in a case over the killing of BNP activist Mahfuz Alam Shraban in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. Mirpur Model Police Station Inspector Sajjad Roman, the investigation officer, submitted an interim investigation report to the court on October 9, sources at the Dhaka court confirmed on Thursday (October 23).
According to the report, investigators found no eyewitnesses or credible evidence placing Iresh Zaker or Ikram Moin Chowdhury at the crime scene around 2:30 pm on August 5, 2024. No still images or video footage showed their presence and no documentary or circumstantial proof linked them to the incident. The officer, therefore, recommended that they be temporarily released from the charges. The report adds that legal action would be taken if any new evidence emerges.
Earlier, on March 27, the victim’s brother, Mostafizur Rahman Bappy, filed the case over Shraban’s death. The court later directed Mirpur police to record it as a First Information Report (FIR), naming 407 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The complaint alleged that on August 5, a BNP procession in Mirpur was attacked by ruling party activists on the accused’s instructions. The attackers reportedly fired bullets and rubber rounds and used tear gas, sound grenades and explosives, leaving Shraban fatally injured. He was declared dead after being taken to a local hospital.
PT/ra
