Abul Barkat shown arrested in murder case, release from jail delayed
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam today (14 June) granted a police petition seeking to show Barkat arrested in the case and subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail.
Economist Professor Abul Barkat has been shown arrested in a murder case filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud in the Nilkhet area of the capital during the July Uprising, delaying his release from jail.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam today (14 June) granted a police petition seeking to show Barkat arrested in the case and subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail.
SI Mazharul Islam of the prosecution division confirmed the development.
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According to court sources, Professor Barkat was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) police from his residence on Road No. 3 in Dhanmondi on the night of 10 July. He was later sent to jail in a case over the alleged embezzlement of Tk297 crore in loans taken from Janata Bank in the name of AnonTex Group through fraudulent means.
On 7 June, Barkat secured bail from the Appellate Division in the Anti-Corruption Commission case. However, he was not released from prison.
On the same day, Inspector Amzad Hossain Talukdar of the DB police's Ramna Zonal Team filed an application seeking to show him arrested in the Abdul Wadud murder case. The court had fixed Sunday for a hearing in the presence of the accused, and Barkat was produced before the court during the proceedings.
Appearing for Barkat, his lawyer, Shahinur Islam, pleaded with the court not to show him as arrested in the case. Following the hearing, the court allowed the police application.
Another lawyer representing Barkat, Babul Mia, said, "To secure his release from jail, Abul Barkat will have to obtain bail in this case. We have filed a bail petition on his behalf. The bail hearing will take place tomorrow, Monday."
According to the application seeking his detention, Dr Abul Barkat allegedly provided financial assistance and necessary instructions to local Awami League, Chhatra League, Juba League, Swechchhasebak League and Awami League-backed leaders in the Dhaka University area between approximately 11am and 12pm on the day of the incident in connection with activities against the Student Against Discrimination (SAD).
According to the case statement, businessman Abdul Wadud was shot dead during protests in the Nilkhet area of New Market on 19 July 2024 amid the July Uprising.
Following the incident, Abdul Wadud's brother-in-law, Abdur Rab, filed a murder case with New Market Police Station, naming 130 individuals as accused, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader.
