Major Akhtaruzzaman’s Bail Rejected, Chaos in Courtroom

A scuffle broke out between pro-BNP and Jamaat lawyers during the bail hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman at a Dhaka court today (4 October), with the altercation later spilling onto the road in front of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court.

The incident began shortly after the judge entered the courtroom around 2:40pm to hear Akhtaruzzaman's bail petition. Lawyers from the two sides engaged in a heated argument, which at one point turned into pushing and shoving.

The judge initially remained silent and observed the situation but left the courtroom about two minutes later as the situation deteriorated. The lawyers continued pushing each other inside the courtroom.

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Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi and defence lawyer Abdur Razzaq later urged the lawyers to remain calm. After the situation subsided, the judge returned to the courtroom around 2:45pm and resumed the proceedings.

Several minutes of shouting and pushing and shoving between pro-BNP and Jamaat lawyers continued on the road in front of the CMM Court before police and other law enforcement personnel brought the situation under control.

During the hearing, Akhtaruzzaman, who was standing in the dock, asked the judge for permission for 10 lawyers to represent him. His voice appeared strained while making the request.

After the court rejected his bail petition and ordered him to be sent to jail, Akhtaruzzaman reportedly raised the slogan "Allahu Akbar" while standing in the dock. Lawyers present then asked him to stop.

Earlier in the hearing, defence lawyers protested remarks allegedly made by Public Prosecutor Faruqi during a briefing after Akhtaruzzaman's remand.

They alleged that the prosecutor had referred to the Jamaat leader as "batil mal" (discarded material). The lawyers raised the issue before the court, prompting another exchange between the two sides, after which the judge asked them to stop.

Defence lawyer Razzaq and several other lawyers then began arguments seeking bail for Akhtaruzzaman.

Razzaq told the court that Akhtaruzzaman, a former lawmaker, had no basis for the allegations brought against him in the case.

He said Akhtaruzzaman had merely protested alleged irregularities at the airport and complained to senior officials about the lack of trolleys for passengers' luggage.

The defence lawyer also claimed that Akhtaruzzaman had not physically assaulted anyone at the airport and that CCTV footage did not support the allegation. He described the case as politically motivated and sought bail on any condition, citing his client's alleged health complications.

Opposing the bail petition, Public Prosecutor Faruqi alleged that Akhtaruzzaman had thrown Zamzam water at the airport in a manner that could have hit anyone nearby.

"Protesting is not a crime, but if the language and manner of the protest are abnormal, it can constitute an offence," he told the court.

The prosecutor also alleged that Akhtaruzzaman had physically insulted an airport official named Kamal Uddin and that the act of throwing Zamzam water and participating in the incident may have been planned.

Faruqi further argued that granting bail could hamper the investigation and urged the court to reject the petition.

Earlier today, the court sent Akhtaruzzaman to jail after rejecting his bail petition at the end of a one-day remand in a case filed over disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam passed the order after the hearing.

Police produced Akhtaruzzaman before the court around 12:40pm after completing his one-day remand. He was then kept in the CMM court lock-up.

Airport Police Station Sub-Inspector Majedul Islam, the investigating officer in the case, sought an order to keep Akhtaruzzaman in jail, saying the accused had allegedly admitted to the incident during interrogation and provided information that was being verified.

The investigating officer said the investigation was still underway and that keeping the accused in jail was necessary in the interest of a fair and proper investigation.

Akhtaruzzaman was arrested from his residence on Road 10 in Dhamalkot area near the Cantonment on 2 October. The following day, a Dhaka court granted police a one-day remand to question him in connection with the case.

The case was filed over disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport centring on a shortage of luggage trolleys and baggage-related services, as well as alleged obstruction of government duties.