Khaleda Zia motorcade attack: Sramik League leader 'Hatkata Kashem' placed on 5-day remand
Other notable accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Tejgaon unit Awami League President Abdur Rashid, General Secretary and ward councillor Shamim Hasan, and former president of Dhaka North unit Chhatra League Syed Mizanur Rahman.
A Dhaka court has placed Mohammad Abul Kashem Patwari, also known as "Hatkata Kashem", president of the Tejgaon unit of Jubo Sramik League, on a five-day remand in a case filed over an alleged attack on former prime minister Khaleda Zia's motorcade and an attempted murder.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after a hearing today (25 August), state counsel Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed.
Kashem was arrested from the Karwan Bazar area of the capital on 17 August. The following day, the court rejected his bail petition and ordered that he be sent to jail.
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On 20 August, the case's investigating officer and Tejgaon Police Station Inspector Abdul Hannan sought a seven-day remand to question Kashem in the case. The court scheduled a hearing for yesterday (24 August) in the presence of the accused.
During today's hearing, defence lawyers Monir Hossain Sumon and Masud Rana sought Kashem's bail and cancellation of the remand prayer. The prosecution opposed the petition.
Following arguments from both sides, the court granted a five-day remand.
A case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station on 22 August 2024 against 113 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over an alleged attack on Khaleda Zia's motorcade. Bellal Hossain, general secretary of Ward 26 of Dhaka North BNP, filed the case.
Other notable accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Tejgaon unit Awami League President Abdur Rashid, General Secretary and ward councillor Shamim Hasan, and former president of Dhaka North unit Chhatra League Syed Mizanur Rahman.
Kashem is listed as accused No 49 in the case.
According to the case statement, Khaleda was taking part in the election campaign of BNP mayoral candidate Tabith Awal during the 2015 Dhaka North City Corporation election when her motorcade came under attack in front of the Bapex building in Karwan Bazar on 20 April that year.
The case alleges that leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations attacked the motorcade with the intention of killing Khaleda.
