Home
+
Published : 30 Apr 2026, 06:55 PM
A Dhaka court has questioned police over allegations that a former officer of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) was denied basic personal care, including a shave and haircut, while in custody.
Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam raised the issue on Tuesday before granting police three more days to interrogate Manzil Haider Chowdhury in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The fresh remand order came after the expiry of a previous four-day remand.
The matter was raised by Manzil’s lawyer, Kamal Hossain, who told the court that an application submitted on Apr 26 seeking permission for his client to shave and trim his hair had not been acted upon.
“Do basic matters such as eating, using the washroom or shaving also require a court order?” the magistrate asked, directing the investigation officer to address the issue.
The court also referred to the treatment of political detainees during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, noting that current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had faced hardship at the time.
Manzil, a former Army officer who served for 21 years, including postings at the DGFI, was arrested from Mohakhali DOHS in Dhaka on Apr 9.
He was initially questioned over a killing during the July Uprising, but the latest remand relates to a case filed with Ramna Model Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Police allege that Manzil is a close associate of former major general Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the former security adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the remand application, investigators claimed Manzil provided funding, ammunition and strategic advice to the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and Awami League as part of efforts to destabilise the interim government.
Police also alleged that he helped organise processions and anti-government propaganda after the political changeover on Aug 5.
Opposing the remand, Kamal Hossain argued that Manzil was being unfairly targeted.
“He remained a major for 17 years. Had he been a corrupt officer, he would have become a brigadier general by now,” the lawyer told the court.
State Prosecutor Muhammad Shamshuddoha Suman argued that Manzil was a key figure operating behind the scenes.
He claimed information obtained from Manzil had already led to the arrest of members of Tarique Siddique’s staff. The prosecutor also alleged that Manzil held information about enforced disappearances, including that of BNP leader Ilias Ali.
The case stems from a procession allegedly brought out by members of the banned Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League in front of Rupayan Tower on Sept 12.
