Jamaat leader Akhtaruzzaman denied bail in airport disorder case

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman in a case filed over alleged disorder and obstruction of government duties at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport amid a shortage of luggage trolleys.

Judge Md Sadekin Habib Bappy of the Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-5 passed the order today (26 October) after hearing arguments from both sides.

Defence lawyers Mohammad Shishir Manir and Abdur Razzaq sought bail, arguing that the incident involved only an exchange of words and does not constitute a criminal offence. Razzaq said Akhtaruzzaman protested against alleged irregularities and corruption.

State lawyer Omar Faruk Faruqui opposed the petition, arguing that the incident has been widely covered by the media and that granting bail can hamper the investigation.

According to the case statement, 34 Jamaat representatives and their family members arrived from Madinah on 1 October. A temporary shortage of trolleys and delays in receiving luggage and Zamzam water led to tensions.

The case alleges that Akhtaruzzaman verbally abused and threatened airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad, obstructed officials from performing their duties, and physically assaulted a security supervisor.

It also alleges that he behaved aggressively towards a representative of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and threw away containers of Zamzam water collected by other passengers.

The case was filed by airport security official Md Shahriar Alam Sajib at Airport Police Station.

Akhtaruzzaman was arrested at his residence in Dhamal Kot, near Dhaka Cantonment, on 2 October.

The following day, a court ordered one day of remand for questioning. He was sent to jail on 4 October after the remand ended.