Jamaat Leader Akhtaruzzaman Arrested Over Alleged Threats at Dhaka Airport
Jamaat leader Maj. (retd.) Akhtaruzzaman was arrested by the DB in a case involving alleged threats to Dhaka airport’s executive director and assault of a security official.
DHAKA: Jamaat leader Maj. (retd.) Akhtaruzzaman has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police in a case filed over alleged threats to the executive director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the assault of a security official.
Police arrested Akhtaruzzaman from his residence in the capital’s Cantonment area at around 6:10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and later handed him over to Airport Police Station, according to DB chief Shafiqul Islam.
Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Uttara Division Rezaul Karim said the arrest was made by the DB following a requisition from the Uttara division police. He said Akhtaruzzaman would be produced before a court in accordance with the law.
What happened at the airport
According to the case statement, passengers arriving from Medina on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-338 faced delays in collecting their luggage at Belt No. 8 on Thursday morning because of a shortage of baggage trolleys.
The delay reportedly triggered frustration and tension among passengers.
At the request of Dhaka-5 lawmaker Mohammad Kamal Hossain, airport Executive Director Group Captain S M Ragib Samad went to the area to help manage the situation, the statement said.
The complaint alleges that Akhtaruzzaman behaved aggressively toward the airport executive director, verbally abused him and issued threats while he was speaking to passengers and others at the scene.
The case statement further alleges that protocol assistants accompanying Akhtaruzzaman were recording video on mobile phones inside a restricted Key Point Installation (KPI) area.
When security supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin asked them to stop recording, Akhtaruzzaman allegedly behaved discourteously toward him and subsequently assaulted him.
The complaint also alleges that bottles of Zamzam water belonging to passengers were thrown from trolleys and damaged, and that Akhtaruzzaman behaved aggressively toward a representative of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Charges filed
Police said the case was filed under Sections 186, 189, 294, 323, 352, 353, 504 and 506 of the Bangladesh Penal Code. The sections cover allegations including obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties, causing hurt, criminal force, intentional insult and criminal intimidation.
Police said investigators would examine CCTV footage, interview eyewitnesses and collect other evidence before taking further legal action.
The allegations in the case could not immediately be independently verified. Akhtaruzzaman’s response to the allegations was also not immediately available.
