Ex-MP Abul Kalam Azad shown arrested in July movement attempted murder case

Former Rajshahi MP Abul Kalam Azad Formally Added to Attempted Murder Investigation

Thebangladaily.com – A Dhaka court has formally shown former Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) member of parliament Abul Kalam Azad arrested in an attempted murder case linked to violence during the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque issued the order on Monday after police applied to include Azad as an arrested accused for the purposes of the ongoing investigation. Azad was taken from jail to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court before the hearing and was later ordered to return to custody.

The decision does not amount to a finding of guilt. It places Azad within the formal scope of the investigation, while the allegations against him remain to be tested through the legal process.

Police seek formal arrest status

Investigators sought the court’s permission to show Azad arrested in the case, stating that the step was needed to allow a proper investigation. After hearing the request, Magistrate Haque approved it and directed that the former lawmaker be sent back to jail.

Public prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed the court’s order.

Azad previously represented Rajshahi-4, which includes Bagmara, in parliament. He was affiliated with the Awami League, a party that is now banned.

Case stems from August 2024 shooting allegation

The case concerns allegations arising during the anti-discrimination student movement in 2024. The complaint states that Alek Khan was participating in a procession in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area on August 5, 2024, when he suffered gunshot injuries.

Khan received medical treatment before filing the attempted murder case at Jatrabari Police Station on February 18, 2025. The filing named individuals in connection with the alleged attack.

The latest order formally identifies Azad as an accused under investigation in that case. Police may now pursue investigative steps connected to his alleged role, subject to the safeguards and procedures of Bangladesh’s criminal justice system.

What the Court Order Means

Being “shown arrested” is a procedural step commonly used when a person already in custody is brought into the investigation of another case. It enables investigators to record the person’s arrest in the additional matter and seek further court orders when required.

In this instance, Azad was already in jail when police brought him before the magistrate. The court’s approval means he remains in custody while being treated as an accused in the Jatrabari attempted murder investigation.

The order should not be read as a verdict on the allegations. Criminal liability can be established only after investigation, submission of the relevant legal materials, and any subsequent court proceedings. Azad retains the right to defend himself against the accusations.

A case tied to a period of unrest

The anti-discrimination student movement of 2024 became a major period of political and social tension in Bangladesh. Allegations of violence involving protesters and others have led to a range of criminal complaints, with investigators examining individual incidents and the people accused in them.

The Jatrabari case centers on a specific allegation: that Alek Khan was injured by gunfire while joining a procession on August 5, 2024. The investigation will focus on the circumstances of that incident, the available evidence, and whether the allegations can be supported through the legal process.

For readers following the case, the key distinction is between an allegation, an investigative action, and a judicial conviction. Monday’s court order concerns the investigation stage. It does not resolve the factual claims made in the complaint.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Police are expected to continue examining the attempted murder case after the order to show Azad arrested. Investigators may assess witness accounts, medical documentation, available physical evidence, and other materials relevant to the reported shooting.

Any later action, including further questioning, requests for remand, submission of a charge sheet, or trial proceedings, would require separate legal steps. The court’s present order is limited to allowing Azad’s arrest to be recorded in this particular case.

The matter remains under investigation, and the accusations against the former lawmaker have not yet been proven in court.