‘Kill me in crossfire instead’
A court in Dhaka has ordered the formal arrest of Khadija Yasmin Bithi, daughter of top-listed criminal Subrata Bain, in connection with an attempted murder case linked to the July movement incident involving Soheli Tamanna in the Badda area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam passed the order on Saturday following a hearing.
According to court proceedings, the investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Md Aminur Rahman of Bhatara Police Station, produced the accused before the court and submitted an application seeking her formal arrest.
The court had earlier fixed the date for the hearing in her presence.
Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsudduha Suman appeared on behalf of the state and supported the plea for formal arrest.
During the hearing, Bithi was allowed to address the court. She reportedly said, “Instead of formally arresting me like this, why don’t you just kill me in a crossfire?” She added, “I have a child.
I am being harassed with case after case. I support myself through a job. Where will I get so much money?”
She further stated, “I am not involved in any politics.
How would I be associated with Chhatra League or Jubo League? I am being dragged into various cases solely because of my father. I have a 13-year-old daughter.
I got bail in one case before, and then they filed another fabricated case against me.”
Bithi also told the court, “I do not know why so many cases keep being filed against me.
That day I had gone to visit my father. I was arrested from there. As a daughter, I have every right to visit my father. During July, I had gone to Sylhet for a part-time job.”
She was earlier arrested on 15 December last year from in front of Comilla District Jail.
According to the case statement, on 5 August 2024, the final day of the July movement, at around 11am, protesters including Soheli Tamanna were present in the Bhatara Police Station area when the accused allegedly opened fire and attacked demonstrators. Soheli Tamanna was struck by bullets during the incident.
She later collapsed on the road and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. Following recovery, she filed a case with Bhatara Police Station.
