Former MP Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman Seeks High Court Bail in Airport Case

Jamaat-e-Islami leader, former MP and freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman has applied for bail in the High Court in a case filed over allegations of obstructing government work and misbehaving with officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Lawyer Shishir Monir confirmed the bail application on Sunday (1 November). Earlier, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court rejected his bail application in the same case after a hearing.

His bail application in this case had also been rejected on 4 October. On that day, after the end of a one-day remand, he was produced before the court and his lawyers sought bail, but the court rejected it and ordered him to be sent to jail.

The incident dates back to 1 October. On that day, allegations were raised against Akhtaruzzaman of mismanagement over luggage and trolleys, creating disorder, obstructing government work and physically assaulting a security officer on duty at Shahjalal International Airport.

Airport security officer Md. Shahriar Alam Sajib filed the case with the Airport Police Station over the incident. Akhtaruzzaman was arrested on 2 October.

After the arrest, the investigating officer sought a five-day remand, but Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir granted a one-day remand.

According to the case statement, on 1 October, 34 representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami returned to Dhaka from Madina with their family members. Their flight landed at the airport at 8:55am.

After immigration, the passengers went to belt No. 8 to collect their luggage. At that time, due to extra passenger pressure, a temporary shortage of trolleys arose and long queues formed.

The complaint states that in that situation, several protocol assistants tried to take trolleys without following the queue rules. At the same time, several passengers became agitated over the delay in receiving luggage and not receiving Zamzam water, and behaved improperly. Charges have been brought under several sections of the Penal Code in the case.