Awami League does not need to apologise: Firoz after fresh arrest orders

A Dhaka court has shown former lawmaker A S M Firoz arrested in two more cases linked to the July uprising, including the killing of student Naim Howladar in Jatrabari and an attempted murder case involving Tarek Chowkidar.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the order on Wednesday (September 9) after hearing separate applications seeking to show Firoz arrested in the two cases. He was subsequently sent back to jail.

The applications were filed on September 3 by DB Sub-Inspector Nazim Uddin Fakir, the investigating officer in the Naim murder case, and Jatrabari police Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, who is investigating the attempted murder case involving Tarek.

Firoz was brought to court from jail for the hearing. Speaking to reporters while being taken to the courtroom, he said he had secured bail after serving a two-year sentence in another case, only to be shown arrested again in new cases.

Asked whether the Awami League should apologise to the nation, Firoz said he did not believe the party needed to apologise at this stage.

During the hearing, state lawyer Harun-or-Rashid argued in favour of showing Firoz arrested, while his lawyers Kamal Hossain Biswas and Shafiqul Islam Swapan opposed the move.

Addressing the court with its permission, Firoz said he was 78, had spent more than two years in jail, was a freedom fighter and had served as a lawmaker eight times. He denied committing any wrongdoing and said he was ill and had been advised to seek medical treatment.

Firoz was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police from the capital’s Banani area on August 23, 2024, and has remained in custody since then.

His lawyer Morshed Hossain Shaheen said Firoz had secured bail from the High Court in four cases but was shown arrested in the two new cases before he could be released from jail.