Jamaat leader Akhtaruzzaman placed on remand over assaulting airport security official

A Dhaka court on Saturday placed Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman on one-day remand in a case filed over allegedly creating disorder, obstructing government officials in discharging duties and assaulting a security official at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Alberuni Mir passed the order as police produced him before the court and pleaded to place him on a five-day remand in the case.

A team of Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman on Friday from his cantonment residence in the case.

According to the case documents, a 34-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami arrived in Dhaka from Medina with their families on October 1.

The flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:55 am and was parked at 9:08 am. The passengers then entered the terminal through Gate No. 21, completed immigration formalities and proceeded to the No. 8 baggage belt area to collect their luggage.

At that time, there was a temporary shortage of trolleys due to heavy passenger congestion at the airport, resulting in a long queue for collecting trolleys. Several protocol assistants allegedly attempted to collect trolleys by violating the queue system.

Later, some of the individuals concerned including Akhtaruzzaman became agitated and behaved improperly. The former lawmaker verbally abused and threatened HSIA Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad.

He also verbally and physically abused Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin, a security supervisor on duty.

Mohammad Shahriar Alam Sajib, a security officer at the airport, filed the case with Airport police in this connection.