Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka court on Monday placed former Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on a five-day remand in a case filed over killing BNP activist Mokbul in Dhaka’s Paltan area on December 7 of 2022.
Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahbubul Haque passed the order after Investigation Officer Nazmul Hasan and also Sub-Inspector of Paltan Model Police Station, produced him with a 10-day remand prayer.
In the prayer, SI Nazmul said Saber was aware of the killing and he needs to be remanded to find out FIR-named accused people and other fugitives responsible for committing such offences. The defense submitted an application, seeking bail and cancellation of the remand prayer on the grounds that their client was implicated in the case for harassment.
During Monday’s hearing, pro-BNP lawyers resisted defense lawyer Ehsanul Haque Shomaji from defending Saber Chowdhry, who was lawmaker from Dhaka-9 constituency. At one stage, Shomaji wanted to leave the courtroom, but then the pro-BNP lawyers urged him to defend.
On September 30, Abbas Ali, a former member of Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal central committee, filed the murder case against 256 people including top Awami League leaders and several police officials, and 400 unnamed persons.
The Detective Branch of police on Sunday arrested Saber Hossain in the capital’s Gulshan area.
Following the January 7 national election, Saber was appointed Environment Minister. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on EDnvironment Ministry.
Saber was also appointed as a Special Envoy of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for Environment and Climate Change last year.
He was the Organizing Secretary of Awami League from 2001-2008, responsible for Dhaka division. During this period, he was also the Political Secretary to Awami League President and then Leader of the Opposition Hasina.