Jailed ex-major Sadiq orchestrated Bhatara car arson thru trained operatives: Police
Investigators, in a written explanation, asserted that trained participants who evaded arrest carried out the car arson in accordance with Sadiq's prior instructions and financial backing to destabilise the country and facilitate the return of Hasina
The Bhatara police submitted a written explanation to a Dhaka court today (16 August) detailing how former major Md Sadiqul Haque, while detained in prison, was implicated as a suspect in a case involving the arson of a private car in the capital's Bashundhara area under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The written explanation was submitted to Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam by Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam and the case's Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector Md Chand Ali after the court directed them to explain Sadiq's involvement.
The court order followed a petition by defence lawyer HM Al-Amin, who argued during a hearing on 10 August that Sadiq was already in prison when the arson occurred and questioned how he could be involved.
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Kamal Hossain, a sub-inspector of the Dhaka Metropolitan Prosecution Division confirmed that Sadiq was produced before the court from prison during the proceedings, and the judge announced that an order would be passed after reviewing the written statement.
The case stems from an incident on the night of 11 November 2025, when a car owned by Monir Hossain was set on fire in front of the Bitumen Gate in the Bhatara area.
After police and fire services brought the blaze under control, Monir learned through media and social platform reports about a "complete shutdown" programme called by the activities-banned Awami League and its affiliate organisations for 13 November.
Monir subsequently filed an anti-terrorism case against 20 to 25 unnamed members of the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League.
Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Chand Ali petitioned the court on 7 August to show Sadiq arrested in the arson case after investigation linked him to the crime.
In their written explanation, police stated that although Sadiq was in jail during the arson, the attack was executed by absconding activists who had previously received training, instructions, and funding from him.
According to police investigations, Sadiq hosted secret meetings from July 3 to July 8 last year at the KB Convention Hall near Bashundhara, where he acted as the "chief trainer" for 300 to 400 activities-banned Awami League and its student wing Chhatra League members to incite public disorder.
Police further noted that Sadiq and his wife, Sumaiya Tahmid Zafrin, organised similar training workshops at the Sea Shell Resort in Purbachal, a restaurant in Katabon, Mirpur DOHS, and their flat in Priyanka City in Uttara Sector 12.Investigators asserted that trained participants who evaded arrest carried out the car arson in accordance with Sadiq's prior instructions and financial backing to destabilise the country and facilitate the return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sadiq, who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by a military court on 29 October 2024 following his dismissal from the Bangladesh Army, was formally detained by the military on 1 August after reports surfaced regarding his training activities.
Sub-Inspector Jyotirmoy Mondol filed an initial anti-terrorism case on 13 July over the KB Convention Hall gathering. Sadiq and his wife, Sumaiya Tahmid Zafrin, were previously placed on five-day police remands on 29 December by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat in connection with anti-terrorism cases filed with Bhatara and Gulshan police stations.
Sumaiya, who was taken into custody on 6 August by the Detective Branch from Mirpur DOHS, faces allegations of acting as a financier, adviser, and instigator for the banned organisation.
