HC grants bail to former MP Akhtaruzzaman

The High Court has granted bail to former lawmaker Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman in a case filed over alleged disorder, obstruction of official duties and harassment of a security officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

A High Court bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol and Justice Md Zakir Hossain passed the order on Sunday (1 November) after a hearing on his bail petition.

Senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir represented Akhtaruzzaman in court.

Earlier, Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-5 rejected his bail petition on 26 October. Judge Md Sadekin Habib Bappi passed the order after a hearing.

According to the case documents, tensions broke out at the airport on October 1 amid complaints of mismanagement, a severe shortage of luggage trolleys, delays in baggage delivery and the unavailability of Zamzam water. The situation escalated into heated exchanges between passengers and protocol assistants.

Security officer Md Shahriar Alam Sajib filed the case with Airport Police Station, accusing Akhtaruzzaman of creating disorder, obstructing official duties and harassing security personnel.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Akhtaruzzaman from his residence in the Dhaka Officers' Housing Scheme (DOHS) area on the afternoon of 2 October.

On 3 October, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir granted police one day's remand for questioning following an application by the investigation officer.

After the remand, Akhtaruzzaman was produced before the court on 4 October. The court rejected his bail petition and ordered that he be sent to jail.

He later challenged the lower court's decision before the High Court, which granted him bail on Sunday.