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Published : 17 Dec 2025, 07:36 PM
A rent-a-car businessman at the centre of the probe into the attempted killing of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi has told a Dhaka court that the prime suspect looked markedly different now.
On Wednesday, the court sent him on a three-day remand for allegedly helping the gunman flee.
The order was passed by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam.
After his arrest, Nuruzzaman was produced before the court, when Inspector Faisal Ahmed of the Motijheel regional team of the Detective Branch sought custody for interrogation.
In the remand plea, the investigating officer said, after Hadi was shot, the suspect went into hiding. Based on information gathered through various information technologies and sources, Nuruzzaman was found to be directly involved in the incident, having assisted Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect, by providing a vehicle to facilitate his escape.
Nuruzzaman was present in court during the hearing.
Inspector Faisal told the court that by supplying a microbus, the escape route of the suspect was made easier.
Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of remand on behalf of the state. He said that interrogating those involved would help trace Faisal’s whereabouts, describing the case as significant and saying public concern over Hadi was widespread. He urged the court to grant the remand.
No lawyer appeared on behalf of Nuruzzaman. When the court asked if he wished to say anything, he addressed the magistrate directly.
He said he knew Faisal through online communication and WhatsApp, adding that Faisal had previously rented vehicles from his rent-a-car business.
According to Nuruzzaman, Faisal would often travel to Saturia and return to Aladin Park. He said he had known Faisal for about nine months, but they had not met in person over the past three months.
Nuruzzaman told the court that Faisal again rented a vehicle from him on Dec 10 to go to Saturia before returning to Aladin Park. On Friday, Faisal requested another vehicle, but all his cars were already on trips. He said he then arranged the trip through an acquaintance, identified only as Sumon.
When the magistrate asked whether he knew the driver, Nuruzzaman replied “yes”. Asked about the driver’s whereabouts, he said the driver was in the custody of detectives and had been brought in with him.
Nuruzzaman further told the court that Faisal called him on Friday, saying he had recently married and was having trouble with his wife, asking him to send the car to Matsya Bhaban. Sumon drove the car there, after which Faisal called again and asked for the vehicle to be sent to BNP Bazar in Agargaon. Nuruzzaman said he then asked Faisal to contact Sumon directly, and they coordinated between themselves.
Referring to Faisal’s appearance, Nuruzzaman said the man had long hair when he first knew him, but now appeared on television with very short hair.
The magistrate later told Nuruzzaman that remand was not a punishment and advised him, as a rent-a-car operator, to cooperate with the investigation, assuring him that he would not be harmed.
Following the shooting of Hadi, an attempted murder case was filed with Paltan Police on Sunday night by Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, with the consent of the family.
Law-enforcing agencies have so far reported the arrest of eight people in the case, including Faisal’s parents, wife and brother-in-law.
On Tuesday, Faisal’s associate, known only as Kabir, was placed on a seven-day remand. On Monday, the court granted five days’ remand for Faisal’s wife Saheda Parvin Samia, his brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, and close friend Maria Akhter Lima. A day earlier, the three-day remand of motorcycle owner Md Abdul Hannan was approved.
Hadi, who rose to prominence during the July Uprising and the movement to ban the Awami League, had announced plans to contest in the parliamentary election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency. He was attacked on Friday while campaigning at Bijoynagar.
While Hadi was riding in a moving rickshaw, an assailant seated on the back of a moving motorcycle shot him, with the bullet striking his head.
Gravely wounded, Hadi was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he underwent surgery, before being transferred later that night to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Doctors described his condition as extremely critical.
On Monday afternoon, Hadi was flown to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced treatment.
