A Dhaka court has placed Khadiza Yasmin Bithi, daughter of top-listed criminal Subrata Bain, on a further four-day remand, in the case over the killing of Jubo Dal leader Arif Sikder.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque issued the order after the hearing.
Earlier, on 18 December, the court had placed Khadija on a five-day remand in the same case, prosecution sub-inspector Arif Reza said.
Bithi was arrested on 15 December from in front of Cumilla District Jail, and was produced before the court the following day, when the investigation officer, DB Police Inspector Md Mazharul Islam, sought her detention in jail.
During the hearing, defence counsel sought cancellation of the remand and bail, arguing that no information had been obtained from her during the earlier remand and that seeking remand again was unjustified, while also citing that she has two children.
State prosecutor Shamsuddoha Suman argued in favour of the remand, saying that Tarique Rahman is returning to the country and a national election is ahead, raising concerns over the country’s security, while adding that Khadija may have more important information relevant to the case.
In court, Khadija Yasmin Bithi said she had no knowledge of the incident and alleged that arresting her and placing her on remand was inappropriate as her father is already in legal custody, adding that she earns her livelihood through regular work and that her young child is currently being looked after by neighbours.
According to the case documents, Jubo Dal leader Arif Sikder was shot on 19 April in front of “The Jheel Café” on Nayatola Morol Goli under Hatirjheel Thana, and later died on April 21 while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Following the incident, the victim’s sister Rima Akhter filed an attempted murder case at Hatirjheel police station against 10 people, including Subrata Bain’s associate Mahfuzur Rahman Bipu, which was later converted into a murder case after Arif Sikder’s death.
Subrata Bain was subsequently arrested in the case and interrogated on remand.
