Former Jatrabari OC Abul Hasan arrested in Teknaf

He faces charges over a student's death during quota reform protests

Former Jatrabari Police Station chief Abul Hasan has been arrested in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, in connection with the murder of Imam Hasan Taim during Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The arrest took place on Monday afternoon, said Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, additional superintendent of Cox’s Bazar district police.

“He is now in the custody of the district police. The matter has been reported to the relevant police station in Dhaka, and a team is on its way to bring him back,” he added.

Taim, a second-year student at Narayanganj Government Adamjee Nagar MW College, was shot dead in Jatrabari on Jul 20.

His mother, Parveen Akhter, filed the murder case on Aug 20, naming OC Hasan, Wari Division Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Iqbal, and three others.

According to the case dossier, on Jul 20, during a curfew relaxation between 12pm and 2pm, Taim went with two friends to a tea stall in Kajla, Jatrabari. Protesters were demonstrating in the area at that time.

Under the orders of DC Iqbal, police used tear gas shells, stun grenades, rubber bullets, and gunfire at the protesters.

In the chaos, protesters began fleeing in fear for their lives.

Taim and his friends took refuge in the tea stall and lowered the shutter, but there was a gap at the bottom. Police pulled out those hiding there and instructed them to run to avoid gunfire.

Taim, the first to flee, was shot and died on the spot.