I was on the side of July: Kalimullah

Former vice chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, has been shown arrested in an attempted murder case filed at Uttara West Police Station in the capital involving a July fighter. Standing in the dock during the hearing on his arrest, he said, “I was on the side of July.”

After the hearing, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Md. Zakir Hossain ordered him shown arrested on Thursday. He was also sent to jail.

Kalimullah was brought before the court that day. He was then taken to the dock under police escort. The hearing began in his presence. Kalimullah sought permission from the court to speak. He said, “I was the first to protest the killing of Abu Sayed. He was my student. There is a record showing that I was the first to protest. I did not oppose July. After Abu Sayed was killed, I protested and built public opinion. I was on the side of July.” The court later ordered that he be shown arrested.

The Anti Corruption Commission filed a case on June 18 last year against five people, including Kalimullah, over allegations of embezzling money allocated for development work at Begum Rokeya University. Detective police arrested Kalimullah from his Mohammadpur residence on August 7 last year in the case. His bail petition was rejected that day, and he was sent to jail.

On June 14 this year, he was granted bail by the High Court in the case. Later, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court allowed him to submit his bail bond subject to a Tk 100,000 surety and the deposit of his passport. As he had no other cases against him, he was waiting to be released from jail. At that point, an application was filed seeking to show him arrested in the attempted murder case at Uttara West Police Station.

According to the case details, during the July movement on July 19, 2024, victim Mustain Billah Sabbir was standing at the northern side of Rabindra Sarani Road, at the head of Road No. 2. At around 4:45 pm that day, the accused, armed with lethal weapons, suddenly opened fire on students and members of the public. A bullet fired by the accused struck him between his left arm and elbow, seriously injuring him. People present there took him to Uttara Highcare General Hospital, where he received initial treatment.

He was later admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) for advanced treatment. On October 4, 2025, July fighter Mustain Billah Sabbir filed a case at Uttara West Police Station in connection with the incident.