Police have sought to clear marketing professional and actor Iresh Zaker of charges in a case filed over the killing of BNP activist Mahfuz Alam Shraban, linked to the July uprising.

Iresh, listed as accused number 157, was found to have no evidence connecting him to the incident, said investigation officer Sazzad Roman, inspector of Mirpur Model Police Station.

Police have also moved to clear former cabinet secretary Mahbub Hossain and Bangladesh Insurance Forum President BM Yousuf Ali in the same case. The IO has also appealed to the court to relieve 16 other accused.

They include Forethought PR Managing Director Ikram Moin Chowdhury, Popular Life Insurance Company Ltd Additional Managing Director BM Shawkat Ali, and Tiger IT Chairman Ziaur Rahman.

Sazzad filed three interim investigation reports with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court between October 9 and 16.

"In the primary investigation, no evidence was found linking them to the incident, so they have been exempted," he said citing the report.

The case was filed by Shraban's brother on March 27, accusing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 406 others of involvement in Shraban's killing in Mirpur on August 5 last year.

Iresh's inclusion in the case had sparked widespread criticism, with many netizens highlighting his active role in the uprising.

The accused include 24 journalists, at least 36 former ministers and state ministers, more than 41 former AL lawmakers, six former advisers to Hasina, businesspersons, lawyers, doctors, and police.