Cops Chasing a ‘Ghost Victim’ in Hasina Case Exposes Pressure on Bangladesh Police Under Yunus Regime

An attempted murder case filed during the turbulent 2024 protests in Bangladesh against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dramatically unravelled, raising serious questions about political interference, institutional pressure, and the misuse of criminal law under the current interim government.

The case, which named Sheikh Hasina and 112 others as accused, collapsed after investigators were unable to locate the alleged victim, verify the complainant’s identity, or substantiate any of the key allegations made in the First Information Report (FIR). Despite these glaring flaws, police officials have admitted they are under “pressure” to pursue the case, even as they seek to have the charges dropped.

The revelations lend significant weight to claims made by Hasina’s Awami League that law enforcement agencies under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration have been forced to pursue politically convenient prosecutions—often without credible evidence.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Bangladesh’s specialised national investigative agency, informed a Dhaka court that the case was riddled with “factual inaccuracies.” These included a missing victim, forged identity documents, and a complainant who could not be traced at his declared address. Despite recommending that the charges be dropped, the PBI acknowledged it was facing institutional pressure over its findings, according to reports by Bangladeshi outlet BDNews24.

This episode has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over governance under the Yunus administration, which came to power promising justice and institutional reform following the 2024 protests. While the PBI’s stance suggests resistance to blatantly weak prosecutions, its admission of pressure underscores what critics describe as a retributive political climate aimed at settling scores with the Awami League.

Since Sheikh Hasina’s removal, scores of Awami League leaders have been booked in what the party and independent observers describe as arbitrary and politically motivated cases. The Yunus administration, which enjoys backing from Islamist factions, has been accused of weaponising law enforcement to criminalise the previous regime.

The arbitrary nature of these actions was further highlighted by the death of prominent musician Proloy Chaki—who had ties to the Awami League—while in police custody. His son, Sony Chaki, alleged that although his father was not initially named in any case, he was later “shown arrested” in an explosives case linked to the August 4 violence, according to The Daily Star.

“Attempted Murder” Case Against Sheikh Hasina Collapses Due to Missing Victim

The case in question was filed on September 3, 2024, at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Police Station by a man identifying himself as Md Sharif, who claimed to reside in the Hazaribagh Tannery area.

Sharif alleged that his 27-year-old younger brother, Shahed Ali, was injured in an attempted murder on August 4 near Dhanmondi 27, close to Meena Bazar. Sheikh Hasina was listed among 113 accused—a pattern commonly seen in FIRs registered after Yunus assumed office.

Nine additional individuals were listed as injured, allegedly students from City College and Dhaka College. However, investigators found that only their names were mentioned, with no addresses, medical documents, or institutional verification provided, according to JagoNews24.

Four individuals were initially arrested by local police before the case was transferred to the PBI, which routinely handles complex and high-profile investigations requiring greater objectivity.

PBI Declares Case “Fundamentally Unreliable”

In a final report submitted to the court on November 5, the PBI concluded that the case was “fundamentally unreliable.” The findings were made public only after sustained media scrutiny.

The most damaging revelation was the complete absence of the alleged victim. Investigators found that no individual named Shahed Ali had ever lived at the address mentioned in the FIR and that he was not related to the complainant.

Verification revealed that the National ID number cited was fake and not linked to any registered mobile number. Claims that Shahed Ali ran a business at Shimanto Square were also disproven after market authorities confirmed that no such person existed.

College authorities were unable to confirm the identities of the nine alleged student victims due to insufficient details. CCTV footage and on-site verification further established that no such incident occurred at the stated time and place.

Despite repeated notices, the complainant failed to present any victim or medical records. As a result, the PBI recommended that Sheikh Hasina and the other accused be discharged.

These findings raise a critical question: if the case was fundamentally flawed, why were arrests made in the first place?

Complainant Vanishes, Identity Found to Be Fake

Investigators also struggled to locate the complainant. The landlord at the Hazaribagh address denied that anyone by that name had ever lived there.

National ID verification revealed his real name to be Shariful Islam, son of Sirajul Islam, from Mandari in Lakshmipur Sadar—where locals also failed to recognise him. His phone number remained largely unreachable, though his WhatsApp account showed sporadic activity.

When investigators eventually met him near Dhanmondi Lake, he was unable to produce the alleged victim or any medical documentation.

Why PBI Admitting “Pressure” Matters

Even while recommending acquittal, the PBI acknowledged it was facing pressure regarding its conclusions. The agency maintained it was investigating all protest-related cases “with sincerity” and cited evidence-based charge sheets in several other cases.

However, in this instance, the absence of any credible evidence led the investigating officer to formally recommend clearing Sheikh Hasina and the remaining 112 accused.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 3.

The collapse of this case strongly reinforces Awami League allegations that the Yunus administration has overseen the weaponisation of the legal system through false cases, mass arrests, and intimidation.

The party claims that in the three months leading up to October 2025, at least 2,264 cases were filed nationwide, resulting in more than 32,000 political arrests, including former ministers, MPs, and senior officials.

Even in failure, the case is revealing. It exposes how serious criminal charges were registered without basic verification, how investigators are pressured to sustain weak cases, and how political objectives appear to shape law enforcement priorities under the current regime.