Maj Sadequl Hoque’s wife remanded for questioning over ‘secret’ meeting in Bashundhara

Police have received permission to question Sumaiya Zafrin, wife of Maj Sadequl Hoque, in their custody in a case over a “conspiratorial secret meeting” in Dhaka’s Bashundhara.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah made the decision on Thursday.

Inspector Jehad Hossain of the Detective Branch Gulshan Division, the investigating officer in the case, brought Sumaiya to court and petitioned for a seven-day remand.

After a hearing, the court granted law enforcers five days to question her, according to Vatara Police Station General Registration Officer Sub-Inspector Zakir Hossain.

The Army has already formed a court of inquiry against Sadequl, accusing him of training members of the Awami League.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed Sumaiya’s detention in a statement on Wednesday.

Sumaiya’s name had recently surfaced on social media, with some posts claiming she held the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP).

On Aug 2, the Police Headquarters clarified that they had no ASP under that name.

With Sumaiya’s detention, the number of arrests in the Bashundhara meeting case has risen to 23.

According to the case dossier, the meeting was organised by the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.

The gathering included activists from the Awami League, Chhatra League, and retired government officials, with an estimated attendance of 300 to 400.

The First Information Report (FIR) says during the day-long meeting on Jul 8, participants shouted anti-government slogans and allegedly discussed plans to mobilise people from across the country to Dhaka, occupy the Shahbagh intersection, and create instability in the capital.

The aim, according to the report, was to spread fear among the public and force the return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.