Ex-DGFI chief Mamun Khaled placed on 5-day remand in murder case

A Dhaka court has placed former director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Lt Gen (retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled, on a five-day remand in connection with a murder case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station in the capital.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Siddiq Azad passed the order today (26 March) after a hearing, confirmed state prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, Detective Branch (DB) Sub-Inspector Kafil Uddin, produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand.

According to the remand petition, the preliminary investigation found sufficient evidence of the suspect's involvement in the incident. It stated that a seven-day remand was necessary to interrogate Mamun Khaled intensively in order to uncover the motive and ensure a proper investigation.

According to the case statement, on 19 July 2024, the victim, Delowar Hossain, 40, was present with students and members of the public in support of the anti-discrimination student movement at Mirpur-10 Fruit Market area in Dhaka.

At that time, 500 to 700 activists of Awami League affiliate organisations, including the named accused and unidentified others, allegedly opened indiscriminate fire from different directions under the instruction of detained suspect Mamun Khaled, using both local weapons and foreign firearms, in an attempt to suppress the peaceful protest.

Delowar Hossain was shot and collapsed at the scene. He was first taken to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in critical condition and later shifted to City Care General Hospital in Shyamoli on 20 July for advanced treatment. He died while undergoing treatment on 21 July.

The victim's wife, Mosammat Liza, filed the murder case with Mirpur Model Police Station on 6 July 2025.

The Detective Branch (DB) of police detained Sheikh Mamun Khaled in the early hours today. Detectives picked him up from his residence in Mirpur DOHS around 1:15am, said DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam.

He was later taken to the DB office on Minto Road.

Sources claim the former intelligence chief is facing multiple allegations, including amassing wealth through illegal means, involving the DGFI in political activities, and orchestrating controversial "militant drama" narratives.

The sources also alleged that he was involved in large-scale corruption, including misappropriation of funds from the Jolshiri Housing Project, and is linked to the so-called "Ayna Ghor".

Additionally, the sources claimed that during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, he used influence tied to Sajeeb Wazed Joy to accumulate illegal wealth. Authorities have not officially confirmed these claims.

Further investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Mamun Khaled served as director of the DGFI from December 2007 to December 2010 and later as its director general from 23 June 2011 to 7 March 2013.

The Anti-Corruption Commission launched an investigation against him around one and a half years ago over allegations of illegal share trading, abuse of power, financial embezzlement, and acquiring assets beyond known sources of income.

A travel ban was imposed on him in May 2025.