Shirin Sharmin detained

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sent former Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury to jail in connection with an attempt to murder case filed over the July uprising, following her arrest from the capital’s Dhanmondi area earlier in the day.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order after Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Mohsin Uddin produced her before the court with a two-day remand prayer.

The court also rejected a bail petition filed by her lawyer.

Shirin Sharmin was brought before the court around 2 pm under tight security following her detention in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the case statement, Ashraful, also known as Fahim, sustained bullet injuries to his left eye in front of Azimpur Bus Stand on July 18, 2024, during the July uprising.

He later filed a case naming 25 individuals, including Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, along with 120 unidentified persons.

Police said the former Speaker was shown arrested in the case related to the July Movement after being detained from Dhanmondi based on confidential information.

Joint Commissioner (Detective Branch-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rabiul Islam Bhuiyan told UNB that Shirin Sharmin was wanted in several cases filed with different police stations in the capital following the political developments of August 5, 2024.

He said she was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court after her arrest.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury resigned as Speaker on September 2, 2024, 27 days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

Following the Awami League’s victory in the 2008 general election, Abdul Hamid was elected Speaker and later became President of Bangladesh. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was subsequently elected Speaker on April 30, 2013.

She also served as a Member of Parliament from the Rangpur-6 constituency.
Officials said further legal proceedings will continue in accordance with the law as investigations into the cases linked to the July uprising remain ongoing.