Interim govt released Saber due to pressure from foreigners: Nur

The interim government has released former environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury in the face of pressure from foreigners, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haq Nur has alleged.

"If you [government] act biased or release them [Awami League leaders] after arresting them, then the dictatorial fascist Awami League will emerge again in a different form. If something like this happens, you will also be humiliated after leaving," he said, criticising the interim government.

Nur, also a former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), made the remarks today (12 October) at a seminar titled 'How to reform the Election Commission' organised by the Reporter Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at Cirdap Auditorium in the capital.

He said, "Why did you arrest Saber Hossain Chowdhury, a former AL minister, just to release him? Also, why did you arrest a gentleman like former minister MA Mannan? Why have you failed to arrest Obaidul Quader? Saber Hossain Chowdhury should not have been released in any way."

The young politician also recommended abolishing the existing constitution and drafting a new one. "Local elections should be made non-partisan."

Saber, who is also a seasoned diplomat and former member of parliament Dhaka-9 constituency, was arrested on 6 October from the capital. He was later shown arrested in six cases, including two filed over the killing of BNP activists. On 7 October, a Dhaka court placed him on a five-day remand in a murder case in a case related to the 2022 killing of a BNP activist.

However, the investigating officer of the case Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hasan produced him in court on the first day of his remand, accompanied by a forwarding report.

In his report, noted that Saber was unable to answer any questions during the interrogation. The conversation revealed that he is physically unwell and suffering from heart disease, with three stents implanted in his heart.

Interrogating him in police custody under these conditions is unlikely to yield the desired information. As a result, he was sent to court without further questioning during his five-day police remand.

He later walked out of jail that day on bail.