Former mayor Atiqul now arrested in case over trader's murder

The case was filed on Jul 12, with the Uttara West Police Station

Former Dhaka North mayor Atiqul Islam has been placed under arrested in another case, this time over the killing of trader Tajul Islam during the July Uprising.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam issued the order after a hearing on Monday, said Sub-Inspector Atiqur Rahman of the Prosecution Department.

The investigation officer, Inspector Nazrul Islam from Uttara West Police Station, had filed an application on Oct 19 to record Atiqul Islam as arrested in the case. The court had fixed Monday for the hearing in the presence of the accused.

Accordingly, Atiqul was produced before the court around 9am. He was taken to the courtroom 15 minutes later, and after a hearing, the court ordered his arrest in the case.

While standing in the dock, Atiqul was seen speaking with his lawyer, Morshed Hossain Shaheen.

After the hearing, Shaheen told reporters: “Former mayor Atiq spoke to me and said he is being falsely implicated in one case after another for political reasons. He is also being taken on remand and subjected to cruel treatment while in jail.

"This government is conducting the judicial process while keeping him in the dark. He is not involved in any criminal act. If justice prevails, no evidence will link him to these cases. He was a businessman and that is why former prime minister Sheikh Hasina nominated him for the mayoral post.”

According to the case dossier, on Jul 18, trader Tajul joined protests near Uttara's Crescent Hospital amid the July Uprising. He was shot dead around 4:45pm that day.

Tajul’s son Redwan Hossain filed a case with the Uttara West Police Station on Jul 12 over the incident.

Atiqul was arrested from Mohakhali DOHS on Oct 16 last year after the fall of the Awami League government. He was then arrested in several cases and taken on remand for interrogation.