A Dhaka court on Saturday sent Motahar Hossain Khan Sufal, assistant secretary of Dhaka North Metropolitan Jubo League, to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over setting fire to a passenger bus in the capital’s Mirpur.
Sufal is the younger brother of Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, central general secretary of the banned organisation Jubo League and former member of parliament.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Siddique Azad passed the order on Saturday. The arrest and court order were confirmed by defence lawyer Shamim Al Saiful Sohag.
Another individual, identified as Abu Zafar Molla, was also arrested in connection with the same case.
On Saturday, police produced both suspects before the court and filed an application requesting to keep them in judicial custody until the conclusion of the investigation.
According to the police application, at around 6.30pm on 19 September, a flammable substance was thrown onto a Technical-bound Abhijat Paribahan bus under the overbridge at Mirpur-1 bus stand, setting the vehicle alight. Several rear seats, fans, and other parts of the bus were burnt in the blaze.
Approximately 30 to 35 passengers on board managed to disembark quickly to save their lives, and the fire was subsequently brought under control with the assistance of police and local residents.
Sensing police presence, individuals at the scene fled towards Darussalam and Shah Ali Mazar while shouting various slogans. The damaged bus was seized from the spot as physical evidence.
Police claimed in their report that initial investigation revealed Sufal’s command and incitement, alongside collusion with other co-accused in the arson incident.
The report mentioned that some provided financial backing, some conspired, and others were directly involved in executing the attack.
According to First Information Report (FIR), Sufal was arrested at around 10.30pm on Friday from 60 Feet Bhanga Bridge area under Mirpur Model Police Station. Abu Zafar was arrested at around 2.30am on Saturday from Mirpur-1 Roundabout area.
Police said in their report that Sufal is the assistant secretary of Dhaka North Metropolitan Jubo League and former vice-chairman of Matlab North Upazila Parishad. Abu Zafar was identified as an active activist of Dhaka North Metropolitan Jubo League.
Details of several cases filed against Sufal at Mirpur Model Police Station in 2024 – including charges of murder, attempted murder, explosives, and rioting – were also presented to the court, with a charge sheet already submitted in one murder case.
Additionally, police said that Sufal is a named accused and identified suspect in multiple cases stemming from the anti-discrimination movement.
The investigating officer informed the court that the arrested individuals were questioned regarding the incident following their arrest, and the information provided by them is currently being verified as the investigation continues.
Requesting their detention, police argued that if granted bail, the suspects might abscond and hamper the investigation. The FIR also lists 40 to 50 unidentified co-accused, and further investigation remains under way.
