2 accused flee from police custody in broad daylight at Ctg court premises

Two accused individuals managed to escape from police custody in broad daylight at the Chattogram court premises this afternoon (29 April).

The incident occurred while the accused were being escorted back to a prison van following their court appearance.

The fugitives have been identified as Md Iqbal Hossain Imon, son of Md Yunus from Uttar Kalaozan in Lohagara upazila, and Anwar Hossain, son of Kamal Uddin from Haji Malek Driver Bari in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali.

Confirming the incident, Chattogram District Court Inspector Habibur Rahman told The Business Standard that the two accused escaped while being loaded into the prison van after their court hearing.

"One is wanted in a murder case under Lohagara Police Station, and the other in a narcotics case under Sitakunda Police Station. We have already launched a manhunt, and they will be arrested soon," he added.

According to police, Imon was arrested in connection with the murder of 20-year-old construction worker Md Zahed, whose body was found in front of a temple near the Rubber Dam Station area of Uttar Kalaozan on 14 January this year. Investigators believe Zahed was strangled to death by his friends over disputes involving online gambling money.

Anwar Hossain is an accused in a drug-related case. Both men were brought from Chattogram Central Jail for a court appearance earlier in the day. It remains unclear to which specific court the two were presented.

Court sources said the escape occurred as the accused were being returned to the prison van. However, further details about how the security breach took place have not yet been disclosed.