A Dhaka court has placed Faisal Rubel Ahmed, a close associate of prime accused Faisal Karim Masud, on a seven-day remand in a case filed over the shooting of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam issued the order on Thursday following an application by the investigating officer ASP Abdur Qadir Bhuiyan seeking a 10-day remand in the case.
Sub-Inspector Md Rukunuzzaman of the prosecution department confirmed the development.
Rubel Ahmed, 33, was arrested late Wednesday night from the Ati Nayabazar area of South Keraniganj with assistance from DB police and CID.
Investigating officer had sought the remand, citing the need for intensive questioning to uncover the involvement of other suspects, as well as the planning and execution details of the attack. Rubel went into hiding immediately after Hadi was shot.
According to the investigation, Rubel and other unidentified conspirators allegedly planned the attack to disrupt political parties and weaken candidates’ morale ahead of the national election.
Rubel is said to have directly assisted Faisal Karim Masud in carrying out the shooting.
Hadi, known for his role in the July uprising and the movement against the Awami League, had announced his independent candidacy for Dhaka-8 in the 13th parliamentary elections. On 12 December, he was shot while traveling in a rickshaw in Bijoynagar by assailants on a moving motorcycle.
Critically injured, Hadi underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, was later transferred to Evercare Hospital, and then airlifted to Singapore for further treatment, where he died on 18 December.
Following the incident, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed an attempted murder case on 14 December, later upgraded to a murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Investigations were initially handled by local police and later transferred to DB police.
On 6 January, the CID submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including Faisal Karim Masud, former ward councilor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, and others.
Five suspects remain at large. The charge sheet alleges the attack was politically motivated, aimed at disrupting the upcoming parliamentary elections and intimidating voters.
Inqilab Moncho has expressed dissatisfaction with the DB police’s charge sheet, prompting the transfer of the investigation to CID. The next report submission has been scheduled for25 January.
