Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury sent to jail in Lalbagh mass uprising case

A court in Dhaka on Tuesday sent to jail former Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in a case filed over an alleged attempt to murder one Asharaful, alias Fahim, in the city’s Lalbagh area during the July Mass Uprising.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order as police produced Chaudhury before the court and pleaded for a two-day remand in the case. The defence, however, argued for her bail.

According to the case documents, a procession of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement was brought out on July 18, 2024, at Azimpur Government Staff Quarter in Lalbagh. At one stage, police and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations allegedly opened fire on the rally, leaving several people dead and injured.

Victim Asharaful was also shot in the incident, sustaining pellet injuries to different parts of his body, including his left eye. He was rushed to hospital and underwent treatment at several hospitals but permanently lost vision in his left eye.

He filed the case with Lalbagh Police Station on July 17, 2025.

A team of the Detective Branch (DB) arrested Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury from her Dhanmondi residence on the night of April 6.