Ex-chief whip ASM Firoz shown arrested in two more cases

Former chief whip and former Patuakhali-2 lawmaker ASM Firoz expressed frustration in court today (9 September) after being shown arrested in two more cases despite securing bail in another.

“After getting bail in one case, they show me arrested in another. This is the government; this is the law of the country!” he said.

Firoz was produced before a Dhaka court for a hearing on police applications to show him arrested in two separate murder and attempted murder cases filed with Jatrabari Police Station in connection with the July Uprising.

While being taken from the lock-up at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court in Dhaka to the courtroom under tight police security, Firoz expressed his frustration, saying, “I have already served two years in prison in one case. After being granted bail, I am shown arrested in another case. Is this the law?”

Responding to a question on whether he would apologise to the nation on behalf of the Awami League, he said, “It will not be enough if I apologise to the nation on behalf of the Awami League. The person who is supposed to apologise should do so, if that person thinks it is necessary. But I do not think there is anything to apologise for to the nation at this moment.”

On 3 September, investigators in the two cases applied to have Firoz shown arrested in the cases. The court scheduled the hearing for today in the presence of the accused.

Following the hearing, the court granted the investigators’ applications to show him arrested in both cases. He was then taken back to the court lock-up under tight security.

Firoz was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from the capital’s Banani area on 23 August 2024. He has remained in custody since then.

Firoz was elected as a member of parliament from the Patuakhali-2 constituency and became chief whip of parliament in 2014.