Mirpur bus arson case: 2 Jubo League activists sent to jail

A Dhaka court today (26 September) ordered two Jubo League activists to be sent to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over the arson attack on a passenger bus in the capital’s Mirpur on 19 September.

The accused are Mohammad Motahar Hossain Khan Sufol, 58, joint secretary of Dhaka North Jubo League and former vice-chairman of Chandpur’s Matlab Uttar Upazila Parishad, and Mohammad Abu Jafar, 46, an active activist of Dhaka North Jubo League.

Sufol is the younger brother of Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, former general secretary of the central committee of the banned Jubo League and former lawmaker from Dhaka-14.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Siddiq Azad passed the order after a hearing today, defence lawyer Shamim Al Saiful Sohag confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.

Investigating Officer and Mirpur Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Delwar Hossain produced the two accused before the court and sought their detention in jail until the investigation was completed.

According to the prosecution, the accused had been questioned following their arrests and the information they provided was being verified. As the investigation was still ongoing, they could abscond and hamper the probe if released on bail, the investigating officer said.

The defence lawyer sought bail, while the state opposed the petitions. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail pleas and ordered the two accused to be sent to jail.

Bus set on fire in Mirpur

According to the case statement, a passenger bus of Abhijat Paribahan was set on fire around 6:30pm on 19 September after flammable material was thrown at it beneath the overbridge at the Mirpur-1 bus stand.

Several rear seats, fans, and other parts of the bus were damaged in the fire. Around 30 to 35 passengers quickly got off the bus and escaped. Police and locals later brought the fire under control.

The case statement alleges that others set the bus on fire in coordination with and on the instructions and instigation of Sufol.

It also says those involved fled towards Darus Salam and Shah Ali Mazar while chanting various slogans after noticing the presence of police.

Sufol was arrested from the 60 Feet Bhangarij area under Mirpur Model Police Station around 10:30pm last night (25 September), while Abu Jafar was arrested from the Mirpur-1 roundabout around 2:30am today.

The case was filed with Mirpur Model Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming 40 to 50 people, including leaders and activists of the Awami League and the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, along with unidentified others.