Ex-minister Farhad Hossain’s wife shown arrested in new case

A Dhaka court today (12 August) ordered Syed Monalisa Islam, wife of former public administration minister Farhad Hossain, shown arrested in a murder case linked to the July movement after she secured bail in nine other cases.

The case was filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud in the capital’s New Market area during the movement.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman passed the order following a police petition.

Monalisa Islam’s lawyer Tariqul Islam confirmed the development.

Earlier, on 7 August, Inspector Amjad Hossain Talukder of the DB Police’s Ramna Zonal Team, the investigation officer of the case, filed a petition seeking to show Monalisa arrested in the case. The court fixed today for the hearing.

Advocate Tariqul Islam said Monalisa had secured bail from the High Court in eight cases filed in Meherpur and one case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka.

“Just when she was about to be released from jail, an application was filed to show her arrested in this murder case to prevent her release. Today, she was shown arrested virtually, which has blocked her release,” he said.

According to the case statement, businessman Abdul Wadud was shot dead by attackers in front of Gate No 1 of New Market around 5pm on 19 July 2024 during the July Uprising.

Following the killing, Wadud’s brother-in-law Abdur Rahman filed a murder case against 130 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader.

Police arrested Monalisa Islam from a house on Eskaton Road in Dhaka late at night on 16 February 2025. She has remained in jail since then.