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Dhaka, June 23, 2025: Former Shipping Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Shajahan Khan warned that justice would be served for the mob killings of Awami League leaders and activists. Speaking to journalists while being escorted from a Dhaka court on Monday, Khan expressed frustration over what he described as targeted violence against his party’s members.
“It’s not right. Awami League leaders and workers are being killed by creating mobs. This mob justice has killed people… 162 Awami League leaders and workers. One Magh doesn’t end winter, and there will be justice for this. Don’t think there won’t be justice,” Khan said, referencing a Bengali proverb to emphasize that the issue would not be forgotten.
When asked about the state of the country, Khan paused, smiled, and remarked, “You’re seeing it yourselves. One hand doesn’t clap alone,” suggesting shared responsibility for the current situation. He also inquired about the journalists’ well-being with a smile.
Earlier that morning, Khan, along with former Law Minister Anisul Huq and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser Salman F Rahman, was produced before a Dhaka court in connection with a murder case filed at Yatrabari Police Station over the death of Sajedur Rahman Omar during the July protests. The trio was brought to court wearing handcuffs, bulletproof vests, and helmets, which were removed before they entered the dock. Khan and Huq were seen conversing with each other and their lawyers, while Salman F Rahman remained quiet throughout the proceedings, dressed in a white pajama-panjabi and sandals.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Mahbub Alam, granted two days’ remand for Khan, Huq, and Rahman after a hearing on a five-day remand plea by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). During the hearing, Khan questioned the public prosecutor, Omar Faruk Faruki, asking, “Why are we being repeatedly remanded in these fabricated cases?” He accused Faruki of being a senior BNP leader.
In response, Faruki stated, “During the anti-discrimination movement, they held policy-making meetings at Ganabhaban. As an Awami League Presidium Member, he (Khan) is not an ordinary accused. They admitted in the media that no leniency would be shown to protesters and that they would be suppressed.” Faruki clarified that the cases were filed by victims’ relatives, not the prosecution, and his role was limited to representing the state in hearings.
The court also granted two days’ remand for Huq and Rahman in the same case, one day’s remand for former MP Kazi Monirul Islam Monu in a separate murder case, and three days’ remand for retired Rear Admiral Sohail in an attempted murder case linked to a 2023 BNP rally. A remand plea for Monu in another case was rejected.
The Sajedur Rahman Omar murder case alleges that on July 21, Omar was shot in the head during clashes at Yatrabari and succumbed to his injuries on August 24. The case, filed on January 3, names 81 accused, including Sheikh Hasina. Other cases involve the deaths of Riton Uddin and Rasel, as well as an attempted murder during a 2023 political rally.
As Khan was led away, a photograph captured by Samakal showed him being escorted from the court, symbolizing the ongoing legal battles faced by former Awami League leaders.
