Chamber court upholds High Court bail for ex-MP Akhtaruzzaman, no bar to release
The Appellate Division’s Chamber Court has upheld the bail granted by the High Court to former lawmaker and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman, clearing the way for his release from jail.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order on Monday, dismissing a state petition seeking a stay on the High Court’s bail order.
Advocate Shishir Manir appeared for Akhtaruzzaman during the hearing, while Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state.
Earlier on Sunday, the High Court granted bail to 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.
The state subsequently moved the Chamber Court seeking a stay on that order.
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.