In the wake of last year’s mass uprising and the resulting political shift, a total of 5,079 individuals — including former MPs, ministers, and high-profile figures — have been arrested in Dhaka in the the past year. Even though a few have secured bail, many still find themselves in custody.
While ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in face of the student-public movement, many senior Awami League leaders went into hiding, with some seeking asylum abroad.
The 5,079 arrestees include former members of Hasina’s cabinet, and leaders from her party’s affiliated bodies. They have been arrested on various charges surrounding the mass uprising, including violent clashes, murder, and other criminal offenses. So far, 706 cases have been filed across 50 police stations in Dhaka, while the total number of cases elsewhere stands at 2,000.
The arrestees include 23 former ministers, 11 former state ministers and deputy ministers, 66 former MP, including eight from reserved women’s seats, 19 personnel from law enforcement agencies, 45 others from various fields including the media. Of them, only seven former ministers have been granted bail so far, said sources from various courts.
However, even when bail is granted by the High Court, release is often delayed as local courts or chamber judges frequently overturn or block the order. Legal advocates claim that over 20 individuals may be granted bail in one case, but are still denied release in another. Across the country, they estimate that more than 10,000 party activists have been detained over the past year.
Besides, the ACC has filed cases against approximately 250 individuals of the Awami League, including its president Sheikh Hasina, on charges of corruption, irregularities, money laundering, and illegal accumulation of wealth. Investigations into allegations against many others are still ongoing. ACC Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said the court has issued travel bans for about 1,000 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. The court has also approved applications for the seizure of numerous properties registered in their names. The court has also ordered the seizure of their flats, land plots, assets, and bank accounts.
Additionally, around 27 cases of crimes against humanity related to the July uprising have been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal. These implicate 206 people, including Sheikh Hasina, and 73 of them have already been arrested.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Prosecution Division, Main Uddin Chowdhury told The Business Standard that since 5 August last year, a total of 706 cases has been filed across 50 police stations under DMP, surrounding the anti-discrimination movement. So far, 5,079 individuals have been arrested in these cases, which include charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault.
Most of the cases against the Awami League leaders and activists have been handled by advocates Morshed Hossain Shaheen and Farzana Yasmin Rakhi. The two lawyers shared with TBS that the courts are not granting bail to the top-tier Awami League leaders and activists. “Even when bail is granted by one or two higher courts, it is often denied by the chamber judge court. If bail is granted in one case at the grassroots level, release is being withheld in another case.”
Except for murder and attempted murder cases, a few individuals whose names do not appear in the charge sheets, have received bail, but their number is very insignificant, said the lawyers.
The lawyers claimed that over the past year, more than 10,000 Awami League leaders and activists have been arrested across the country.
So far, 27 cases have been filed at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) regarding crimes against humanity committed during July-August uprising. Sheikh Hasina and 206 others are accused in these cases, and 73 them have reportedly been arrested.
After the Hasina government’s ousting on 5 August last year, the first arrests took place on 11 August on the same year with the detention of former Noakhali-6 MP Mohammad Ali and his wife, former MP Ayesha Ferdous.
Then, on 13 August, Salman F Rahman, Sheikh Hasina’s private adviser; and former law minister Anisul Haque were arrested from the Sadarghat area of the capital. Subsequently, arrests continued.
27 ministers among the arrestees
As per data from law enforcement agencies, so far 27 former ministers have been arrested in various cases. They are— former law minister Anisul Huq; former water resources minister and ex-MP of Thakurgaon-1 Ramesh Chandra Sen; Awami League Joint General Secretary and former education minister Dipu Moni; former textiles and jute minister and Chairman of Gazi Group Golam Dastagir Gazi; former commerce minister Tipu Munshi; former water resources minister Anwar Hossain Manju; Awami League Presidium Member and former shipping minister Shajahan Khan; former planning minister MA Mannan; former land minister Rezaul Karim Hira; former public administration minister Farhad Hossain; former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor; former railway minister Nurul Islam Sujan; former industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun; former food minister and ex-MP of Naogaon-1 Sadhan Chandra Majumder; former environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury; former MP of Khulna-5 and former land minister Narayan Chandra Chanda; former civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan; former agriculture minister and Awami League Presidium Member Md Abdur Razzak; former industries minister Amir Hossain Amu; former expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad; former housing and public works minister Engr Mosharraf Hossain; former agriculture minister and former chief whip Md Abdus Shahid; former housing and public works minister AM Obaidul Moktadir Chowdhury; former food minister and Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam; former fisheries and livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas; and former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed.
11 state and deputy ministers are among the arrested
Those have been arrested in various cases in connection with crimes committed July uprising include former ICT state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, former aviation state minister Mahbub Ali, former water resources state minister Zahid Faruk Shamim, former industries state minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former primary and mass education state minister Zakir Hossain, former planning state minister Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, former Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs state minister Dipankar Talukder, former planning state minister Shamsul Alam, former Liberation War Affairs state minister AB Tajul Islam, and former sports deputy minister Arif Khan Joy.
In addition, deputy speaker of the 12th Parliament Shamsul Haque Tuku, former whip and Gaibandha-2 MP Mahbub Ara Begum Gini and former whip ASM Firoz, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser for private industry and investment, Salman F Rahman, and her adviser for power and energy advisor, Toufiq-e-Elahi are among the arrestees.
A list of notable politicians and public figures arrested
Among the arrestees are 66 former Members of Parliament (MPs) from different constituencies and senior Awami League affiliates. They arrested former MPs are— former Rajshahi-3 MP Asaduzzaman Asad, former MP MA Abdul Latif, former MP Mohammad Ali, his wife Ayesha Ferdous, former MP and Awami League’s Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain, former Cox’s Bazar-4 MP Abdur Rahman Badi, former Dhaka-13 MP Sadek Khan, former Dhaka-7 MP Haji Mohammad Selim, his son and former MP for the same constituency Solaiman Selim, former Thakurgaon-2 MP Mazharul Islam Sujan, former Chattogram-6 MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, former Chhatra League president and Barishal-2 MP Shae Alam Talukdar, former Rajshahi-4 MP Enamul Haq, former Kushtia-4 MP Salim Altaf George, former Sirajganj 4 MP Tanvir Imam, former MP Jafar Ullah, former Rajshahi 6 MP Rahenul Haq, former MP Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, former Sirajganj 2 MP Jannat Ara Henrie, former Bhola 4 MP Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, former Khulna 4 MP Abdus Salam Murshedi, former Noakhali 4 MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, former Kushtia 4 MP Abdur Rauf, former Rajshahi 4 MP Abul Kalam Azad, former Thakurgaon 2 MP Dabirul Islam, former Sunamganj 5 Muhibur Rahman Manik, former Kishoreganj 2 MP Sohrab Uddin, former Khulna 6 MP Rashiduzzaman Mordal, former MP Barrister Syed Syedul Haq Suman, former Narsingdi 3 MP Sirajul Islam Molla, former Barguna 1 MP Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, former Bhola 2 MP Ali Azam Mukul, former Barishal 3 MP and Jatiyo Party presidium member GK Tipu, former Jhalakathi 1 MP Shahjahan Omar, former Chattogram 15 MP ABM Nezamuddin Nadvi, former Bogura 6 MP Ragebul Ahsan Ripu, former Narsingdi 2 MP Kamal Ashraf Khan Patton, former Cumilla 8 MP Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, former Dhaka 10 MP Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, former Dhaka 7 MP Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, former Sirajganj 3 MP Abdul Aziz, former Sirajganj 6 MP Chayan Islam, former Habiganj 2 MP Abdul Majid Khan, former Jatiyo Party MP for Sylhet-2 Yahya Chowdhury Ahiya, former Tangail-5 MP Sanwar Hossain, former MP Aftab Uddin Sarker from Nilphamari, former Dhaka 20 MP MA Malek, former Kishoreganj 5 MP Afzal Hossain, former MP from Noakhali and Bengal Group Chairman Morshed Alam, former Jhenaidah 3 MP Nabi Newaz, former Gaibandha 2 MP Shah Sarwar Kabir, former Dhaka 5 MP Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, former Cox’s Bazar 1 MP Mohammad Jafar Alam, former Bagerhat 4 MP Amirul Alam Milon, former Manikganj 2 MP and singer Mamtaz Begum, former Barishal 5 MP Jebunnesa Afroz, former Kushtia 1 MP AKM Sarowar Zahan Badsha, former Munshiganj 3 MP Faisal Biplob former Manikganj 1 MP and former national cricket captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy.
Arrestees include 8 women ex-MPs, 19 law enforcement officers
Also arrested were former senior police officials, including the former SPs of Noakhali and Sylhet, former senior secretaries from the civil aviation and tourism ministry, and numerous other elite public servants.
Additionally, eight former reserved seat female MPs were arrested. They are— Engr Masuda Siddiqua Rozi, Umme Fatema Nazma Begum, Safia Khatun, Sabina Akter Tuhin, Ahmed Nazmin Sultana, Selina Islam, Shamima Akter Khanom;and Laila Parvin Sejuti.
In addition, 19 officials from the law enforcement agencies were arrested. They are— former IGPs Shahidul Haque and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah, former Chittagong Port chairman Mohammad Sohail, former additional superintendent of police Abdullah Hill Kafi, former deputy commissioner of DMP (Intelligence) Lalbagh Division Mashiur Rahman, former inspector of Jatrabari police station Mazharul Islam, former assistant police commissioner of Gulshan Zone of DB Iftekhar Mahmud, former director of National Security Intelligence (NSI, Border Wing) Commodore Monirul Islam, former commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Molla Nazrul Islam, former superintendent of police (SP) of Rangamati Training Centre Mohiuddin Farooqui, former additional superintendent of police Alep Uddin, former additional superintendent of police Shahen Shah, former additional superintendent of police Jewel Rana, former additional superintendent of police Md Rafiqul Islam, former commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam, former police superintendent of Bangladesh Police Academy in Rajshahi Tanvir Salehin Emon, former assistant police commissioner of Badda zone of DMP Rajan Kumar Saha, former OC of Jatrabari police station Abul Hasan.
Among other arrested are Dhaka North City former mayor Mohammad Atiqul Islam and former Narayanganj mayor Ivy Rahman, former chief election commissioners Kazi Habibul Awal and Nurul Huda, Sheikh Hasina’s Principal Secretary and Adviser Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, former election commissioner and home ministry secretary Md Jahangir Alam, former election commission secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, former home secretary Mustafa Kamal Uddin, former youth and sports secretary Mezbah Uddin Ahmed, former civil aviation and tourism ministry senior secretary Mohibul Haque and former senior secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan.
6 top leaders of parties other AL are behind bars
Six leaders from different political parties other than the Awami League have been arrested and are currently in jail in connection with July uprising cases. They are— Trinamool BNP Chairperson Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Workers Party President and former minister Rashed Khan Menon, Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee Advisory Board President Shahriar Kabir, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal’s son Shafi Moddaser Khan Jyoti, and Dhaka University Chhatra League General Secretary Tanvir Hasan Saikat.
From the media, five journalists were arrested, and are currently behind bars. They are—Ekattor Television CEO Mozammel Haque Babu, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Ekattor TV’s former chief news editor Shakil Ahmed and his wife, chief correspondent Farzana Rupa, and Desh TV’s Managing Director Arif Hasan.
Besides, 11 from other professions are currently behind bars. They are— former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque, former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former chairman of National Board of Revenue Md Nojibur Rahman, former additional attorney general Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Sitanshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, former prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Barrister Turin Afroz, former chairman of Exim Bank Nazrul Islam Majumder, former head of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit Masud Biswas, former chairman of Bangladesh Security and Exchange Commission Shibli Rubaiyat-ul-Islam, former National Board of Revenue officer Matiur Rahman, his wife and former upazila chairman Laila Kaneez and Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote Spokesperson and former leader of International Krishna Consciousness Association (Iskcon) Chinmoy Krishna Das, economist and former chairman of Janata Bank Prof Abul Barkat.
A few walked out of jail on bail
Those of the arrestees secured bail are— former environment minister Anwar Hossain Manju, former planning minister MA Mannan, former environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, former land minister Rezaul Karim Hira, former Jhenaidah-1 MP Nayeb Ali Joarder, former Jhenaidah-2 MP Tahjeeb Alam Siddique and former Jhenaidah-3 MP Salahuddin Miyaji.
Of them, Anwar Hossain Manju was released from police custody after being arrested, while Saber Hossain Chowdhury was released on bail after serving one day in jail. The other accused were released on bail after serving different terms in jail. Besides, actress Nusraat Faria was released after serving two days in jail.
