Court rejects police plea to show ex-major Sadiq arrested in car arson case
Police allege Sadiq directed and financed the arson through trained operatives before his imprisonment.
A Dhaka court has rejected a police plea to show former army major Md Sadiqul Haque Sadiq arrested in a case over the arson of a private car in Bhatara, despite investigators alleging that he directed and financed the attack through trained operatives.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam passed the order today (16 August) after reviewing a written explanation submitted by Bhatara police regarding Sadiq's alleged involvement in the case.
Kamal Hossain, a sub-inspector of the Dhaka Metropolitan Prosecution Division, confirmed the development.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"The court has rejected the police plea to show him arrested in this case. However, I have heard that he may be shown arrested in another case," he said.
Defence lawyer HM Al-Amin said there was no other case against Sadiq and, therefore, no legal barrier to his release.
According to police, the car arson on 11 November 2025 was carried out by trained individuals who have not yet been arrested. Investigators allege that Sadiq had provided instructions and financial support for the attack before his imprisonment.
Police also claimed that Sadiq had trained 300 to 400 members of the banned Awami League and Chhatra League at meetings near Bashundhara in July last year.
Investigators further alleged that Sadiq and his wife, Sumaiya Tahmid Zafrin, organised similar training sessions at several locations in Dhaka and Purbachal.
According to the case statement, a private car owned by Monir Hossain was set on fire in front of the Bitumen Gate in Bhatara on 11 November 2025.
Monir later filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 20 to 25 unnamed members of Chhatra League and Jubo League. Sadiq was not named in the original case.
Police sought to show Sadiq arrested in the case on 7 August after their investigation allegedly found evidence linking him to the incident.
Sadiq, who was dismissed from the Bangladesh Army, was sentenced to three months in prison by a military court on 29 October 2024.
He was later arrested in another Anti-Terrorism Act case and recently secured bail from the High Court.
