Police in Bangladesh have registered a case after an alleged attack on the home and business of a witness in a case concerning crimes against humanity during the country’s 1971 Liberation War. Five members of the family were reported to have been injured in the incident in Daulatpur village, in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj, on October 29.
The complaint was formally recorded on November 1, according to Mohammad Suhel, officer-in-charge of Shalla Police Station. It names 33 people individually and refers to a further 40 to 50 unidentified suspects. Police have said legal steps will follow, but the available account does not state that anyone has been convicted or provide details of arrests.
Allegations made by the family
Dulal Miah, who gave evidence in a 2016 case involving alleged offences committed during the war, is identified as the witness whose family home was attacked. His father, Mamud Miah, was killed during the conflict. His sister, Jomila Khatun, has been recognised as a Birangona, a term used for a war heroine.
Dulal’s daughter, Ujjala Aktar, said she lives at the property with her husband and that the family runs a shop there. She alleged that local people had subjected the family to repeated harassment from August 5, 2024, and had involved them in several cases. She further said a substantial payment was demanded to allow them to remain in the area.
According to Aktar, the family’s shop was later looted and a general diary was made with police on August 23. She said officers visited the house on the morning of October 29 after that complaint. Later that day, she alleged, a large group came to the property, led by a man named Jalal Miah.
“They beat us and damaged furniture, a television and a refrigerator. They also stole cattle, gold ornaments and money.”
The allegations have not been tested in court. The report said attempts to contact Jalal Miah for comment were unsuccessful because his telephone was switched off. No response from the other people named in the complaint was included.
What the police case records
Officer-in-charge Mohammad Suhel confirmed that the victims’ complaint had been converted into a criminal case. He said the authorities would take action in accordance with the law, without giving further details about the investigation or the specific offences recorded.
| Reported detail | Information available |
|---|---|
| Location | Daulatpur village, Shalla upazila, Sunamganj |
| Attack | October 29 |
| Injured | Five family members |
| People named in case | 33 named individuals and 40–50 unnamed people |
| Earlier police record | General diary made on August 23 |
Historical significance
The family’s account links the present investigation to a long-running effort to prosecute alleged crimes committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Dulal Miah testified in proceedings filed in 2016. The source report does not state the outcome of that case, nor does it establish that the alleged attack was motivated by his evidence or by the family’s wartime history.
The immediate investigation will therefore need to establish what happened at the house and shop, identify those responsible for any assault or damage, and determine whether property was taken. The reported injuries, the size of the alleged group and the number of people named in the complaint underline the scope of the allegations, while the absence of a court finding means they remain allegations at this stage.
- Police say a case has been registered following the October 29 incident.
- The family alleges assault, damage to household goods and the taking of livestock, jewellery and cash.
- The complaint names 33 people and includes 40 to 50 unidentified individuals.
