Court grants two-day remand for ex-law minister Anisul Huq in arms case

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for former law minister Anisul Huq in a case filed under the Arms Act for alleged possession of illegal firearms.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Minhazur Rahman issued the order this morning (7 July), following a hearing on a remand petition filed by Banani Police Station.

Earlier, Sub-Inspector Md Yadul Haque, the investigating officer of the case, produced Anisul before the court and sought a five-day remand to interrogate him regarding the alleged unlawful possession of arms.

According to the remand application, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued a directive to suspend and surrender all firearms licenses issued for personal security between 2009 and 5 August 2024.

Despite the directive and its widespread circulation, many individuals reportedly failed to surrender their licensed weapons and ammunition.

The ministry instructed law enforcement to take legal action against those who did not comply, stating that any arms not surrendered within the given period would be considered illegal.

The application noted that Banani Police Station did not receive any record or notification that Anisul Huq, or a representative on his behalf, had surrendered his licensed firearm between 4 September 2024 and the present date.

Police visited the address listed on the arms licence, but no one was found at the residence. Neighbours reportedly informed police that the accused was currently in jail.

No documentation or witness statements could confirm whether the weapon had been surrendered. Furthermore, there was no record of the accused purchasing any ammunition for the licensed firearm.

The remand petition argued that failure to surrender the firearm constitutes an offence under the Arms Act.

It further stated that a police remand was essential to determine the location of the firearm, recover it, and continue the investigation

During the hearing, defence lawyers submitted a bail petition and requested cancellation of the remand application.

However, state counsel Azizul Haque Didar opposed the bail and argued in favour of the remand.

After hearing both sides, the court granted a two-day remand for further investigation.

Notably, Anisul Huq was arrested on 13 August last year from the Sadarghat area in Dhaka, reportedly while attempting to flee by waterway. The arrest was made based on a tip-off.

The following day, he was remanded for 10 days in a separate murder case filed at New Market Police Station.

Since then, he has undergone multiple rounds of remand in different police stations across the capital and remains in custody.