A tenth grader on Thursday stood alone demanding justice for the killing of Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan.
The teenager, Ratul Ahmed Sagor, stood at the base of the Anti Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at the Dhaka University (DU) campus holding a placard that read, “Justice for Major Sinha.”
He stood there from the afternoon until evening when he was reportedly pressured by the police to leave.
Sagor is a student of class 10 at Jatrabari Ideal High School & College and lives with his family in the Jatrabari area.
He said: “I am standing here to demand proper justice for Major (retd) Sinha, who was shot dead by the police in Teknaf. Those who are involved in this murder should be brought to trial and face capital punishment.”
“There are many law enforcement officials who are involved in such crimes. They also should be brought to justice. Many cases were filed against them but proper investigation is yet to be done,” Sagor added.
He urged people to join him to ensure proper investigation as well as justice.
Sagor also expressed his hope that his protest would draw the attention of the authorities and that the slain Major (retd) Sinha would receive justice.
Meanwhile, a police official from Shahbagh police station’s patrolling vehicle named Masud, according to his identity badge, allegedly forced Sagar out of the place by the evening.
Masud said a case had been filed in connection with the murder of Major (retd) Sinha and the charge-sheet would be placed in time. So justice would be ensured lawfully. He asked Sagor not to protest and leave, eyewitnesses claimed, quoting Masud.
Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Hasan told Dhaka Tribune that he did not know about the incident yet.
“Anyone can protest demanding justice in the area under our jurisdiction. We do not force them out,” Abul Hasan added.
Earlier on July 31 at around 9pm, Major (retd) Sinha was killed at Shamlapur checkpost of Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf marine drive in Baharchara union.
Major (rtd) Sinha, along with Sifat and Shipra, had gone to Cox’s Bazar to make a documentary film on travelling.
Police claimed that they tried to search the vehicle when Sinha aimed his pistol at them, prompting them to shoot back in self-defence. They also claimed that they seized drugs from the vehicle.
However, witnesses gave a different account of the incident. They said Sinha got down from his car, put his hands over his head, and then police gunned down the unarmed Sinha.
Seven police personnel, including Teknaf police station officer-in-charge Pradeep Kumar Das and Inspector Liakat Ali, have since been suspended in connection with the killing of Sinha.
Other suspended policemen include Sub-Inspector Nandadulal Rakshit, Assistant Sub-Inspector Liton Miya, Constables Shafanur Rahman, Kamal Hossain, and Abdullah Al Mamun.
OC Pradeep, Inspector Liakat and SI Nandadulal Rakshit were placed on a seven-day remand while the rest were sent to jail by a court on August 6.
They are all accused in a case filed over Sinha’s murder by his sister with a Cox’s Bazar court.
