Chaos broke out between lawyers for the prosecution and the defence during the bail hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former lawmaker Akhtaruzzaman in a Dhaka court on Sunday.
The incident unfolded at around 2:24pm in the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jamshed Alam.
Following Akhtaruzzaman’s production in court, his lawyers applied for bail, while state prosecutors opposed the plea and argued to keep him in custody. As the hearing commenced, heated arguments and chaos broke out between lawyers of both sides.
Tensions flared multiple times in the judge’s presence, disrupting court proceedings.
At one point, the judge stepped down from the bench.
He later returned once the situation was brought under control to resume the hearing, during which further chaos erupted several times before the court eventually rejected the bail plea and ordered him to be sent to prison.
Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed on the court premises as pro-Jamaat supporters staged a demonstration demanding Akhtaruzzaman’s bail, leading to scuffles and clashes with pro-BNP lawyers.
Akhtaruzzaman was produced in court on Sunday upon the completion of a one-day remand in a case filed over chaos, obstruction of government duty, and the assault of an on-duty security officer following a luggage and trolley crisis at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), 34 representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami, along with their families, arrived in Dhaka from Madinah on 1 October.
Their flight landed at 8:55am and parked at 9:08am. After entering the terminal through Gate 21 and completing immigration procedures, the passengers went to luggage belt No. 8.
Due to heavy incoming passenger pressure, a temporary shortage of trolleys occurred. As long queues formed, several protocol assistants attempted to collect trolleys by breaking queue rules.
Moreover, several individuals became excited and behaved indecently over delays in luggage arrival and the non-receipt of Zamzam water, creating chaos at the airport.
Airport Security Officer Md Shahriar Alam Sojib filed a case as the complainant at Airport Police Station, bringing charges under multiple sections of the Penal Code.
As part of the investigation, police arrested Akhtaruzzaman from his residence in the capital’s Cantonment area on Friday. On Saturday, police produced him in court seeking a five-day remand.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Meer granted a one-day remand following the hearing. Upon the expiry of the one-day remand, he was again produced in court on Sunday.
