‘Hatkata Kashem’ sent to jail in case over 2015 attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade

A Dhaka court today (18 August) sent Tejgaon Thana Sramik League president Md Abul Kashem Patwari, better known as “Hatkata Kashem”, to jail in a case over the alleged attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade and an attempt to kill the former prime minister in 2015.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir passed the order after hearing petitions from both sides and rejecting Kashem’s bail plea.

Yesterday, Kashem was arrested from the capital’s Karwan Bazar area.

The case investigation officer and Tejgaon Police Station Inspector Abdul Hannan sought an order to keep Kashem in jail, while defence lawyer Monir Hossain Sumon sought bail. The prosecution opposed the bail plea.

In the plea seeking Kashem’s detention, the investigation officer said Kashem was accused No 49 in the case and would later be taken on remand.

Belal Hossain, general secretary of BNP’s Ward 26 in north Dhaka, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on 22 August 2024 against 113 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to the case statement, Khaleda was taking part in the election campaign of BNP mayoral candidate Tabith Awal during the 2015 Dhaka North City Corporation election when her motorcade came under attack in front of the Bapex building in Karwan Bazar on 20 April that year.

The case alleges that leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations attacked the motorcade with the intention of killing Khaleda.

Other notable accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Tejgaon Thana Awami League president Abdur Rashid, its general secretary and ward councillor Shamim Hasan, and former Dhaka North Chhatra League president Syed Mizanur Rahman.