A Dhaka court on Friday granted a four-day remand for Major (retd) Manzil Haider Chowdhury, a former official of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in connection with the murder of businessman Abdul Wadud during the anti-discrimination student movement.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam passed the order following a hearing on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, police arrested Manzil from the Mohakhali DOHS area in the capital.
The investigating officer of the case, Inspector Md Amzad Hossain Talukdar of the Detective Branch (Ramna Division), produced Manzil Haider before the court and sought a seven-day remand. The remand petition stated that the accused had been absconding for a long period.
According to the police application, Manzil allegedly worked to suppress the student movement following instructions from deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and the former regime’s military advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
The petition further alleged that Manzil Haider utilised his professional advantages as a military official to formulate a “blueprint” for suppressing the movement during meetings with leaders of the Awami League and its affiliate organisations at various locations in Dhaka.
It was also alleged that, under the direction of Tarique Siddique, the accused supplied funds, arms, and ammunition to anti-movement activists and provided them with necessary instructions and financial assistance.
The prosecution, represented by Azizul Huq Didar, argued that the remand was essential to extract information regarding the distribution of funds and weapons, and to identify and arrest other named and anonymous accused individuals involved in the case.
Although the defence sought bail and the cancellation of the remand prayer, the court rejected the bail petition and granted the four-day remand.
The case relates to the death of businessman Abdul Wadud, who was shot dead on the afternoon of 19 July, 2024, in the Nilkhet area under New Market Police Station during the protests.
The victim’s brother-in-law, Abdur Rob, filed the murder case on 21 August, 2024, naming 130 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader.
