Why is former MP Akhtaruzzaman, who left BNP and joined Jamaat, so hot-tempered? Uncontrolled diabetes, provocation from fellow travellers and a content creator have emerged as possible factors, while several Jamaat MPs are also said to have encouraged his outbursts.
Jamaat’s response has been mixed. The party is demanding his release and warning of a remittance shutdown by expatriates if he is not freed, while some leaders privately appear uneasy about his conduct. One senior leader has even said Akhtaruzzaman is not a party leader.
Akhtaruzzaman is now in jail in a case over allegedly shouting at and threatening officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday.
His temper was again visible when he was produced before a court on Saturday. After one day in remand, chaos and a scuffle broke out during his bail hearing on Sunday. A video later circulated on Facebook showing him embracing police inside a prison van.
A police official told TIMES that investigators took his uncontrolled diabetes into account while questioning him on remand, as it could cause him to lose his temper. He nevertheless answered questions calmly.
Witnesses said 34 Jamaat MPs complained of various problems after arriving at the airport last Thursday. Four MPs, including Jahangir Hossain and Kamal Hossain, lodged complaints with the airport authorities.
Jamaat-leaning content creator Orakatul Jannat, who was part of the delegation, began a Facebook Live over the issue. Akhtaruzzaman started confronting airport officials shortly afterwards.
Several leaders in the delegation said that while Akhtaruzzaman was shouting, Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal, Jamaat MP from Khulna-2, Kamal Hossain, MP from Dhaka-5, and several others stood beside him and encouraged him.
Several Jamaat central working committee members told TIMES that although the party wanted to highlight passenger suffering, there was also quiet anger over Akhtaruzzaman’s behaviour.
That, they said, was why some were reluctant to identify him as a party leader.
Two days ago, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer and MP ATM Azharul Islam said at a press conference that Akhtaruzzaman was not a party leader but only an associate member.
Several central Jamaat leaders and MPs contacted by TIMES declined to comment on the record.
An MP from Khulna division who is also a member of the party’s working committee said highlighting passenger suffering was justified, but people had not viewed Akhtaruzzaman’s behaviour towards airport officials positively.
Akhtaruzzaman, a freedom fighter, spent much of his political career with BNP. He was first elected MP from Kishoreganj-2 in 1991 and won again in the one-sided election of 15 February 1996. He lost in 2001 and did not receive another nomination.
He was expelled from BNP five times over statements and activities that went against the party’s position and was reinstated five times.
He described the July 2024 mass uprising as a conspiracy and said ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina would return with honour. Yet just before the national election last February, he abruptly joined Jamaat, surprising many.
Akhtaruzzaman is now at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. On Saturday, he spent one day on remand at Airport Police Station with other detainees.
He faces allegations of creating disorder at the airport over a shortage of luggage and trolleys, obstructing government work, misbehaving with officials and physically assaulting them.
The plaintiff is airport security officer Md Shahriar Alam Sajib.
Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamrul Islam told TIMES, “After being brought from the court to the police station, he was taken directly into custody. Later, when we asked why and with what intention he created disorder at the airport, he spoke about shortcomings in management. He also said that several people, including the daughter of an MP, had complained to him there.”
Investigating officer SI Majedul Islam said Akhtaruzzaman was examined by a doctor while in police custody.
He said Akhtaruzzaman’s temper remained high because of high blood sugar levels and that family members had delivered his medical certificates and medicines.
On Saturday night, officers questioned him about the allegations in the case.
“When questions were asked after understanding his mental condition, he answered calmly. He raised the issue of mismanagement at the airport and said everyone who had returned had suffered,” he said.
According to the case statement, passengers on a Biman flight from Madinah faced difficulties after landing last Thursday because there were too few trolleys at luggage belt No 8.
As passengers grew angry, airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad went there to assess the situation and became involved in an argument with Akhtaruzzaman.
At one stage, Akhtaruzzaman allegedly approached him aggressively and threatened to beat him and drag him out of the airport by the neck.
The case statement also alleged that he used obscene language towards the airport executive director and made insulting remarks about the civil aviation and tourism minister.
Protocol assistants accompanying Akhtaruzzaman were recording video inside the airport’s KPI area.
When Security Supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin tried to stop them, Akhtaruzzaman allegedly abused and physically assaulted him.
The case also accused him of aggressive behaviour towards a Biman representative and of throwing bottles of Zamzam water kept on a trolley for passengers, damaging them.
He was further accused of trying to disrupt the airport’s normal operations, security and discipline.
The following day, Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police arrested Akhtaruzzaman from his DOHS residence in the Cantonment area.
Police then sought five days of remand, but the court granted one day.
On Sunday, police asked the court to keep him in jail until the investigation was completed, while his lawyers sought bail.
‘Threat of remittance shutdown’ if not released
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar claimed expatriates had threatened a remittance “shutdown” if Akhtaruzzaman was not released.
He made the claim at a press conference at the party office Sunday.
A similar remittance-shutdown call had come from expatriates during the July 2024 mass uprising.
Porwar said, “Expatriate remittance warriors are saying that he [Akhtaruzzaman] wanted to become a martyr for expatriates’ rights, spoke in favour of our rights, and by arresting him our rights have been undermined.”
He also alleged a political motive behind the arrest.
According to Porwar, the airport incident was used as a pretext and Akhtaruzzaman was arrested on the instructions of ruling-party policymakers as an act of political vengeance and retaliation.
Porwar also claimed that a section of Akhtaruzzaman’s former party had become angry after he left the BNP and joined Jamaat. “Many could not tolerate this,” he said.
He criticised the use of handcuffs, a helmet and a bulletproof jacket on Akhtaruzzaman. “I think putting on these handcuffs, helmet and jacket has shown disrespect to freedom fighters,” he said.
Porwar also demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities in airport management and called for scrutiny of the roles of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority and those involved in baggage management.
