Truck driver murder case: Trial begins for Hasina, 33 others

A Dhaka court on Monday (October 26) framed charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 33 others, formally initiating the trial in a case over the shooting death of truck driver Md Hossain during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Judge Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge Court-4 of Dhaka issued the indictment order and fixed November 25 for the start of the deposition of witnesses.

According to the case documents, truck driver Md Hossain was shot dead in the Chand Uddan area of Mohammadpur on July 19, 2024, after parking his truck at Gabtoli and heading back home during the July uprising. His mother, Rina Begum, filed a murder case with Mohammadpur Police Station on August 31, 2024.

Following an investigation, Sub-Inspector Akramuzzaman, the investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against Sheikh Hasina and 33 others on November 23, 2025.

Of the 34 accused, four are currently in jail: former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former Member of Parliament Maqbool Hossain (Sadek Khan), Furqan Hossain, and Shahjahan Khan. Ten other accused are out on bail, while 20 remain absconding.

Along with Sheikh Hasina, the absconding accused include former Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, former Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. Arrest warrants were issued against the fugitives on January 26.

The court had previously set October 8 for the indictment hearing, but prison authorities were unable to produce jailed accused Sajjad Hossain and Naimul Hasan Russel due to their scheduled appearance before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), leading the court to re-fix the hearing for October 26.

-SA