Ex-MP Momtaz to stay in jail as court denies bail over Mirpur 'July murder'

She is the 49th suspect in the case over an attack on student-led protests in Mirpur-10 on Jul 19, 2024

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of former Manikganj-2 MP Momotaz Begom over her alleged connection with the killing of a young man named Md Sagar in the capital's Mirpur during the July Uprising.

Dhaka's Seventh Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Tawheeda Akhter passed the order on Wednesday, after defence lawyer Rezaul Karim moved a petition.

Highlighting his client’s status as a former MP and a well-known folk singer, Rezaul told the hearing that Momotaz. There are no specific allegations against Momotaz in the case.

“Although the case says she, along with other suspects, funded and masterminded the alleged plan to suppress the quota reform protests across the country, there is no substantiating information or data,” he said.

The lawyer argued that Momotaz deserves bail as the allegations against her are “false, baseless, and motivated”.

On Jul 19, 2024 during the student-led protests, Sagar was shot dead in Mirpur-10 Gol Chattar.

A case was filed over the murder with Mirpur Model Police Station on Nov 27 last year, accusing 243 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Momotaz was named as the 49th suspect.

The popular singer became a reserved women's seat lawmaker endorsed by the Awami League in 2008.

She was elected as an MP in 2014 and 2018 under the Boat symbol from Manikganj-2 constituency. But her next bid in the 2024 election failed.

Momotaz was arrested from a house in the capital's Dhanmondi on the night of May 12 last year. She has been in jail since then.