Jubo League leader sent to jail over fatal shooting of street vendor during July protests
Photo Collected
A Dhaka court on Saturday ordered Ratan Dewan, the 32-year-old vice president of the Nawabganj Union Jubo League, to be sent to jail in connection with the killing of street vendor Afzal Hossain during the July student-led protests in the capital’s Jatrabari area.
Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Rakibul Hasan issued the incarceration order following a petition submitted by the case’s investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Khandaker Saleh Abu Naim of Jatrabari Police Station. SI Mahin Uddin, representing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police prosecution division, confirmed the development, noting that the accused was not produced in court as there was no remand hearing scheduled for the day.
In his application to the court, the investigating officer argued that primary investigations and eyewitness testimonies link Dewan to the homicide. The petition emphasized that keeping the accused in custody is essential to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Dewan, who is listed as the 185th accused in the case, was apprehended by the Detective Branch of police in Dhaka on Friday evening. The case involves more than 250 named suspects.
According to the case files, the incident occurred on August 5, 2024, near the pedestrian bridge in front of Bornomala Adorsho High School and College in Jatrabari. Afzal Hossain, a mobile vendor, was participating in an anti-discrimination demonstration when he was struck by gunfire during a confrontation between protesters and security forces supported by local political activists. He was transported to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead by attending physicians.
Following the death, the victim’s brother filed a murder case at the Jatrabari Police Station. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to track the remaining suspects identified in the legal complaint.
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