Ex-state minister Shamsul Alam sent to jail

Staff Reporter :

A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of former State Minister for Planning Dr. Shamsul Alam in connection with the murder case of Jubo Dal leader Shamim Molla during a BNP political programme.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque issued the order on Thursday rejecting Shamsul Alam’s bail plea.

The former minister was produced before the court by Sub-Inspector Md. Ferdous Alam of the Detective Branch (DB), who is also the investigation officer in the case.

The prosecution sought his detention in jail, while the defense appealed for bail. After hearing both sides, the court denied the bail request and issued the order for his incarceration.

Shamsul Alam was arrested on Wednesday night from a residence in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area.

The case stems from a violent incident on October 28, 2023, when the BNP organized a grand rally as part of its central political programme. On the same day, the Awami League announced a counter-rally, reportedly aimed at disrupting the BNP gathering.

According to the case details, attacks were carried out on BNP supporters with the help of police, allegedly to suppress and eliminate opposition voices. During the clash, Shamim Molla, a Jubo Dal leader, was killed.

Subsequently, on September 24, 2024, a murder case was filed with Paltan Police Station in Dhaka in connection with the incident.

Shamsul Alam, a former bureaucrat turned politician, is now facing serious legal consequences as the investigation proceeds.