Former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, former ministers Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan and several others were sued in a murder case filed over the killing of a grocery store owner Abu Sayeed in police shooting in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on July 19. Amir Hamza, a businessman and resident of Mohammadpur’s Adabor area, voluntarily filed the case in the Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury on Tuesday, confirmed Manun Mia, his lawyer. The other named accused in the case are: former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former additional commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun Or Rashid, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, and former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker. Read more: Almost all police stations resume operations: Police HQ In his lawsuit, Amir said that Abu Sayeed was killed at around 4:00 pm on July 19, when police were firing indiscriminately at students and civilians during the quota reform protests. Police opened fire on people on the orders of the IGP and the then home minister. The victim's family members reside in Boda upazila, Panchagarh district. In his complaint, Amir said that the family is unable to pursue a lawsuit over the victim’s death. In addition, several unnamed high-ranking police and government officials have been charged in the case, according to lawyer Mamun Miah. Read more: AL can reorganize but if they try to cause disorder, the outcome will not be good: Adviser Sakhawat

Acknowledging restoration of telecommunications across Bangladesh, the United States has called for a full and undisrupted public access to internet and social media services. “We’re aware of some restoration of telecommunications across Bangladesh, but we are calling for a full and undisrupted public access to internet and social media services,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the United States Department of State Vedant Patel told reporters at a regular briefing on July 29. This will enable people in Bangladesh – including US citizens in the country – to be able to access critical information, he said. Read more: Mobile internet restored after 10 days Patel said that they, both in public and private, continue to call for a “lasting and peaceful” resolution to the current situation. “And we reiterate our unwavering support for the freedom of peaceful assembly,” he said.