Akhtaruzzaman, who was arrested on charges of creating chaos at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, obstructing government work, and physically assaulting a duty security officer, was produced before a Dhaka court today, Saturday. Following this, the investigation officer of the case, Airport Police Station SI Majedul Islam, applied for a five-day remand for the accused Akhtaruzzaman.
Akhtaruzzaman was brought to the court in a prison van under police guard. While getting off the prison van, he threw away the helmet he was wearing on his head. Later, he was taken to the dock. Journalists were barred from entering the courtroom citing security reasons. Amidst this, the remand hearing began.
Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruki presented arguments in favor of the remand on behalf of the state. On behalf of Akhtaruzzaman, several lawyers, including Abdur Razzaq, prayed for the cancellation of the remand and sought bail. After the hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir ordered a one-day remand for the accused.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruki said, 'The people of the country know that Akhtaruzzaman is not normal. His behavior shows that he is not in a normal state; he is in an abnormal state. However, protesting is not a crime. His protest was not a regular protest, it was a criminal protest.'
'Jamaat-e-Islami is now bringing in some people politically. By bringing in such rejected goods, they do nothing except hurl abuses and make unruly statements to people. Jamaat is assisting them in such activities,' he said.
Defense lawyer Abdur Razzaq said that Akhtaruzzaman has been arrested and slapped with a nominal case because he spoke out against corruption, luggage theft, and the harassment of expatriates at the airport. There are no elements present to warrant a case. He was a Member of Parliament and currently joined a political party (Jamaat). We believe the case might have been filed for that reason.
According to case details, tension arose at Shahjalal International Airport last Thursday centered around delays in receiving luggage and a trolley shortage for passengers on a Biman Bangladesh flight arriving from Madinah. At that time, an altercation took place between Akhtaruzzaman and the airport's executive director, Group Captain S M Ragib Samad.
Following the incident, airport security officer Md. Shahriar Alam Sajib filed a case against Akhtaruzzaman at the Airport Police Station on charges of obstructing government work, issuing threats, and assaulting a security personnel. Subsequently, police arrested Akhtaruzzaman on Friday evening from his residence in Dhaka's Cantonment area.
