'Beating people in streets is not my job,' Tipu Munshi tells court

Former commerce minister Ahsanul Islam Tipu, also known as Tipu Munshi, during a hearing said, "I have been in business for 40 years and later became a minister. Beating people in the streets with sticks is not my work."

He was shown as arrested in court as a suspect in the attempted murder of BNP activist Md Bellal in the capital's Paltan area.

His arrest was approved by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam following a police request today (9 February).

He was brought to the courtroom around 11:45am in a police cordon, wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet, which was removed once he reached the dock.

Md Zaidur Rahman Dewan, investigation officer of the case, filed Tipu Munshi's arrest application. The defence opposed it, and after hearing both sides, the court approved the arrest.

His lawyer, Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, said the attack was carried out under the instigation of accused 1 to 20, while others attacked with sticks. She added that Tipu Munshi had no direct involvement, the case was filed nearly two years later, he was not named by the complainant, and the arrest request was unjust.

State counsel Shamsuddoha Sumon said on 28 October 2023, BNP activists marched from Kakrail to Hotel 71 demanding the Awami League government's resignation, and members of the Awami League and allied groups tried to stop them. He added that Tipu Munshi's involvement warranted his arrest.

Before the court's decision, Tipu Munshi told the judge that he had spent 40 years in business before becoming a minister, did not take sticks to attack people, was not involved in the incident, and that it was a political case, leaving the decision to the court.

He then left the courtroom, and the court approved his arrest around 2pm.

Victim Md Bellal filed an attempted murder case on 8 May 2024, with Paltan Police Station, naming 122 accused.