"Ex-Ministers Abdur Razzaque, Faruk Khan Remanded for 2 Days"

Former Awami League ministers Abdur Razzaque and Faruk Khan have each been remanded for two days for questioning in separate criminal cases following their arrests on Monday night.

Abdur Razzaque Remanded for 2 Days

Abdur Razzaque, a former agriculture minister, was arrested from Dhaka’s Eskaton on Monday evening. He was brought to court in connection with a case related to the death of Abdul Wadud, a trader who was shot during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Dhaka's New Market area. The movement, which began as a protest for quota reforms in government jobs, escalated into a wider public uprising against the Sheikh Hasina government.

According to the case details, on July 19, 2024, Wadud, a 45-year-old trader at the Priyangan Shopping Centre, was shot in the head while returning home. The incident occurred amid a student protest, where law enforcement allegedly used rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition on demonstrators. Wadud was critically injured and later died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

At the court hearing, the prosecution sought a seven-day remand for Razzaque to investigate his alleged involvement in the violent suppression of the protest. Inspector Jahangir Arif from the Detective Branch of police submitted the petition. Razzaque’s defence opposed the remand request and sought bail. However, the state attorney argued against the bail plea. After the hearing, Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque granted a two-day remand for Razzaque.

Razzaque has served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tangail-1 constituency and held significant cabinet positions, including Minister of Food, Minister of Disaster Management, and Minister of Agriculture. His arrest comes amid an ongoing investigation into the violent clashes during the July protests.

Faruk Khan Remanded for 2 Days

Faruk Khan, a former minister of civil aviation and tourism and a current Awami League Presidium member, was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Dhaka Cantonment on Monday night. He was remanded in connection with a separate case concerning the death of a BNP activist during a December 2022 protest in Dhaka.

According to the case file, the incident took place on December 7, 2022, during a series of violent clashes between BNP activists and law enforcement in the lead-up to a major BNP rally scheduled for December 10. The case alleges that BNP activists were subjected to unprovoked attacks, including baton charges, explosions, tear gas, and live ammunition, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of several BNP members. Among the casualties was an activist named Makbul, who succumbed to his injuries after being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Faruk Khan was brought before the court by Sub Inspector Nazmul Hassan of Paltan Police Station, who requested a 10-day remand for further interrogation. Faruk’s defence lawyer, Hemayet Uddin Hiron, opposed the remand plea and requested bail. Faruk himself spoke during the hearing, claiming he had no connection to the case and was unaware of the incident. He stated that he had never targeted or harassed BNP activists and emphasized his poor health, asking the court to grant him bail. However, the state prosecution opposed the bail request, and Judicial Metropolitan Magistrate Sanaullah ultimately granted a two-day remand for Faruk Khan.

Faruk Khan has served six consecutive terms as an MP from the Gopalganj-1 constituency. He held key cabinet positions, including Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism and briefly served as Minister of Commerce during his tenure in government.

Background and Implications

The remand of these two senior Awami League leaders comes in the wake of increased political tension following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government amid the nationwide protests that erupted earlier in 2024. The student-led movement for quota reform quickly evolved into a mass protest against the Awami League government, culminating in its downfall. The arrests and legal proceedings against prominent figures of the former ruling party signal an intensified crackdown on those alleged to have been involved in the suppression of the protests.

Both Razzaque and Faruk Khan have been key figures in the Awami League and their arrests mark a significant moment in the post-Hasina political landscape. Their remand periods will likely be critical for the ongoing investigations into the violent incidents that occurred during the protests, and their fates may set the tone for future legal actions against other former members of the government.